Effect on Germination and Early Growth Characteristics in Wheat Plants (Triticumaestivum L.) Seeds Exposed to TiO Nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of titanium dioxidenanoparticles (nano-TiO ) on wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) plants cv. Parsi. The experimentaltreatments included seven concentrations of nano- TiO ( , , , , and ppmnano-TiO and control (without any TiO ). The results showed that among the wheat germinationindices, germination rate and weighted germination index were affected by TiO nanoparticlestreatments. The lowest and the highest germination rate ( vs. n.day- ) were obtained incontrol and and ppm concentration of nano- TiO treatments, respectively. These valuesfor weighted germination index were ( vs. ) in ppm and control treatmentsrespectively. In addition, plumule and radicle length, seedling fresh weight and seedling vigorindex were affected by nano- TiO concentrations, significantly. Plumule and radicle lengths atppm concentration of nano-TiO were higher than untreated control. This study shows thatusing of TiO nanoparticles in suitable concentration caused increasing of seed germination of wheatcv. Parsiin comparison to control plants, otherwise low concentrations had inhibitory effects onwheat germination characteristics.