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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium nanoparticles (CaNP) and putrescine polyamine on some physiological and biochemical properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under the control condition. Saffron corm was treated by different concentrations of putrescine (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mM) and CaNP (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 g/l). The treatment of corm with putrescine and CaNP separately caused a significant increase in morphological parameters. Changes in biochemical parameters were also significant. Compared to other concentrations, the highest concentration of putrescine (1 mM) and CaNP (1 g/l) treatment in the plant showed the greatest effect. The combined effect of putrescine and CaNP treatment on morphological parameters was significant. The results of HPLC analysis showed that CaNP treatment alone is more effective on crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal content than the combined effect of CaNP and putrescine. The present study reported the functional potential of CaNP and putrescine combination to increase growth and phytochemical properties in Crocus sativus.

This study examined the effect of chitosan elicitor with four different concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 g/l) on physiological and biochemical properties of stevia under four levels of salinity stress (0, 50, 100, 150 mM level of NaCl). Salt stress caused reduction of chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), total chlorophyll, carotenoid and total protein content. The increment of malondialdehyde (MDA) content was not significant in all NaCl levels, while the CAT and POX activities were increased as well as stevioside and rebaudioside A under salinity stress. On one side, chitosan treatments could compensate the reduction of physiological traits such as photosynthetic pigments and protein content. On the other side, chitosan caused multiple increases in malondialdehyde content, antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase and peroxidase), steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside A) under salt stress. We report for the first time, the potential of chitosan to enhance salinity-tolerant abilities in stevia through increment of the salt-adaptive factors and to diminish harmful damages caused by NaCl stress.

Nanotechnology has helped a lot in diagnosing and treating multiple illnesses, specifically cancer, and increasing the development of targeted drug delivery methods. Nanocomposites are materials with at least one component smaller than 100 nm. Therefore, this study aims to assess the anticancer effects of silver-graphene nanocomposite on MCF-7.In this study, the rate of inhibition of cancer cell growth and production of reactive oxygen radicals, malondialdehyde, and glutathione stores in MCF7 cells were investigated. Cancer cells were exposed to nano particles for 48 hr. Silver nanoparticles and graphene both reduced the growth rate of MCF-7.Subsequently, by treating the cells with silver-graphene nanocomposite, the rate of inhibition of cell growth at the highest concentration was 84.60%. Nanoparticles also inhibited the growth of cancer cells through the oxidative stress pathway by increasing the amount of intracellular ROS, followed by increasing malondialdehyde and decreasing glutathione stores, so that at the highest combined concentration of nanoparticles, the amounts of LPO and ROS increased up to 70% and 74 %, and glutathione reserves decreased by 16%.Treatment of MCF-7 cells with silver or graphene nanoparticles and combination treatment with these two substances against cisplatin have sound effects, and by affecting oxidative stress factors, such as increased ROS and subsequent increase in lipid membrane damage, inhibit cell growth and proliferation. According to the mathematical model, silver graphene nanocompositesilver nanoparticlesgraphene has the best effect in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, respectively.

Background Antibiotics have been widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections for decades. However, the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has created many problems with a heavy burden for the medical community. Therefore, the use of nanoparticles as an alternative for antibacterial activity has been explored. In this context, metal nanoparticles have demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of naked cerium oxide nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous solution (CNPs) and surface-stabilized using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a bacterial model. Methods Gelatin-polycaprolactone nanofibers containing CNPs (Scaffold@CNPs) were synthesized, and their effect on P. aeruginosa was investigated. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the nanoparticls were determined in an ATCC reference strain and a clinical isolate strain. To determine whether the exposure to the nanocomposites might change the expression of antibiotic resistance, the expression of the genes shv, kpc, and imp was also investigated. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the CNPs was assessed on fibroblast using flow cytometry. Results Minimum bactericidal concentrations for the ATCC and the clinical isolate of 50 µg/mL and 200 µg/mL were measured, respectively, when the CNPs were used. In the case of the Scaffold@CNPs, the bactericidal effect was 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL for the ATCC and clinical isolate, respectively. Interestingly, the exposure to the Scaffold@CNPs significantly decreased the expression of the genes shv, kpc, and imp. Conclusions A concentration of CNPs and scaffold@CNPs higher than 50 μg/mL can be used to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa. The fact that the scaffold@CNPs significantly reduced the expression of resistance genes, it has the potential to be used for medical applications such as wound dressings.

In biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles, it is possible to replace the old chemical synthesis methods with new environment-friendly procedures. In this study, AgNP was synthesized using extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis L. leaves, and then its effect on biochemical characters, antioxidant enzymes activity, and finally carnosic acid content was studied with its various concentrations. UV–visible spectroscopy was utilized to identify the formation of synthesized AgNP. Synthesized AgNP was confirmed the absorption maxima at 500 nm wavelength. Synthesized AgNP were measured using SEM and showed 21 nm at size and spherical shape. Application of various concentrations of synthesized AgNP demonstrated the concentration dependency so that, in concentration of 40 and 60 mM of synthesized AgNP, dry and fresh weight increased. Application of synthesized AgNP at 40 mM resulted in increase of chlorophyll amount which caused more activity in anti-oxidant enzymes and also biomass accumulation such as soluble carbohydrate and flavonoid. After treatment of synthesized AgNP at 40 mM concentration, HPLC demonstrated an increase in carnosic acid. Here, small nanoparticles revealed increased in secondary metabolites. Synthesized nanoparticles can also be utilized in order to produce natural products and plants with faster growth rates.

Stevia rebaudiana extract is globally approved as a low-calorie sweetener. Increasing glycosides content using biotechnological methods is particularly important. In this study, stevia plant was treated with silver nanoparticles at various concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 40 mM). Subsequently, the transcription of key gene levels in the biosynthesis of rebaudioside and stevioside glycosides, including UGT85C2 (UDP-glycosyltransferases), KAH (Kaurenoic acid-13 hydroxylase), UGT74G1, and UGT76G1 was measured using real time PCR assays. The HPLC was used to evaluate the glycosides content. UGT85C2 demonstrated the highest transcriptional level changes in plants treated with silver nanoparticles. The plants treated with silver nanoparticles at concentration of 10 and 20 mM showed a lower gene expression than the control plant, but plant treated with silver nanoparticles at 40 mM concentration showed significantly higher gene expression than the control samples. The results suggested that the treatment with AgNPs at 40 mM leads to similar positive effects on the transcription of all genes. HPLC results also revealed that the plants treated with 40 mM nanoparticles contains a higher glycosides content comparing to the control sample. Thus, the present experiment suggests that silver nanoparticles can act as a strong amplifier of the transcriptional trigger for steviol glycoside biosynthesis pathway genes which have the potential to control the production of steviol glycosides positively.

In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on morphological parameters and on the quantity of the produced steviol glycosides were investigated as well as its effect on the parameters such as fresh weight of shoots, dry weight of shoots, membrane lipid peroxidation [in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) assay], and concentration of stevioside glycoside in the plants. The results revealed that the plants treated with 400 ppm TiO2 nanoparticles had the highest fresh and dry weight of shoots, whereas those treated with 200 ppm had the lowest concentration of MDA and the highest quantity of stevioside. Therefore, the treatment with TiO2 nanoparticles had a significant positive effect on morphological and phytochemical properties of Stevia plant. The TiO2 nanoparticles transmit light energy to electrons, convert them into chemical energy, and ultimately increase CO2 stabilization, making them very efficient with respect to their photocatalytic properties. The results are very encouraging, and they show that there is a great potential for the use of such nanoparticles in increasing the metabolites in the plant. This is the first study evaluating the favorable effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the highly valuable medicinal plant Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), in terms of uptake, translocation, and alteration of metabolic pathways in a concentration-dependent mode.

Background Recently, numerous investigations have been done to study graphene and silver nanoparticle in the fields of agriculture and medicine. In the present study, the green synthesis of nanoparticles with two concentrations (0, 40, 60 mM) and their effect on the molecular and biochemical biosynthesis pathway of rosmarinic acid in a new method, low cost, and safe for the environment has been investigated. The transcript levels of key genes in the rosmarinic acid biosynthesis pathway (Tyrosine aminotransferase, rosmarinic acid synthase, and phenylalanine-ammonia lyase) were studied using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Then, the rosmarinic acid content was evaluated using HPLC. Results The results showed that a concentration-dependent manner was observed in treated plants. At the biochemical level, the use of nanocomposites at concentration of 40 mM showed higher soluble carbohydrate (37%), flavonoids (21%), total phenol (35%) as well as total protein (47%) compared to the control plants. HPLC results showed that rosmarinic acid content in the treated plants with a low concentration of nanocomposite (40 mM) was more affected than plants treated with a high concentration of nanocomposite (60 mM) (26%) and also compared to other treatments. At the molecular level, the result showed that Tyrosine aminotransferase and rosmarinic acid synthase gene expression was positively correlated with both silver nanoparticle concentrations and nanocomposite treatments, but phenylalanine-ammonia lyase gene expression was positively correlated only with nanocomposite at 40 mM concentration. Conclude It can conclude that the nanocomposite at low concentration is more likely to induce molecular and biochemical parameters. And also, in the rosmarinic acid biosynthesis pathway, the Tyrosine aminotransferase -derived pathway is more efficient than the phenylalanine-ammonia lyase -derived pathway by causing a nano-elicitor. Therefore, it was concluded that studied elicitor at low concentration, can create plants with higher production capacity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium nanoparticles (CaNP) and putrescine polyamine on some physiological and biochemical properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under the control condition. Saffron corm was treated by different concentrations of putrescine (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mM) and CaNP (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 g/l). The treatment of corm with putrescine and CaNP separately caused a significant increase in morphological parameters. Changes in biochemical parameters were also significant. Compared to other concentrations, the highest concentration of putrescine (1 mM) and CaNP (1 g/l) treatment in the plant showed the greatest effect. The combined effect of putrescine and CaNP treatment on morphological parameters was significant. The results of HPLC analysis showed that CaNP treatment alone is more effective on crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal content than the combined effect of CaNP and putrescine. The present study reported the functional potential of CaNP and putrescine combination to increase growth and phytochemical properties in Crocus sativus.

Nanoparticles are particles between 1 and 100 nm in size that has the ability to modify their physio-chemical properties compared to other material. In the present study, leaves of Stevia rebaudiana B. were used to extracts to synthesize Ag nanoparticles from AgNO3 (1 mM concentration) and then studied the effects of these commercial and synthesized Ag nanoparticles on biochemical (chlorophyll content, anthocyanin, flavonoid, carbohydrate, protein and DPPH) and growth characteristics of Stevia at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40 mM). UV–visible spectroscopy was used to identify the formation of Ag and analyzed synthesized Ag nanoparticles at 300–700 nm. Absorption maxima at 435 nm wavelength confirmed their synthesis. Examining synthesized AgNPs from S. rebaudiana extract using SEM micrograph showed a 25 nm dimension and spherical shape. Application of synthesized and commercial AgNPs at various concentrations on Stevia showed a dependency on concentrations that at 10 and 20 mM of AgNP, an increase in leaf area, shoot height and dry and fresh weight was recorded. At the biochemical level, applying 40 mM of synthesized AgNP resulted in increased chlorophyll content which led to accumulation of biomass besides soluble anthocyanin, flavonoid and carbohydrate and also total protein and DPPH, compared to plants treated with commercial AgNP. Moreover, the results demonstrated that increasing AgNP concentration enhances glycoside content in both treatments. Based on our findings, synthesized AgNP is more effective in accelerating the growth and improve the quality of natural product in Stevia plants than commercial AgNP.

Stevia rebaudiana B. extract as a low-calorie sweetener has gained worldwide approval. Synthesized nanoparticles by plant have been used in different programs such as medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural fields. Here, we report the increase of the main glycosides of stevia plant with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) treatment. This fact has stimulated research on the analysis and comparison of different concentrations of commercial and synthesized AgNPs on the glycosides of stevia plant by highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After AgNPs synthesis, spectrum absorption of extracts was analyzed in different ranges from 300 to 700 nm and the maximum peak was observed at 420 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph of synthesized AgNPs from Stevia rebaudiana extract showed spherical shape with the size of 25 nm. A comparison between quantities of glycoside by HPLC under both treatments of AgNP exhibited that synthesized AgNPs were more effective than commercial AgNPs on stevioside and then rebaudioside. On the other hand, results showed that increasing AgNP concentration in both treatments will lead to glycoside content enhancement. Overall, significant changes were observed in the glycosides in plants under synthesized and commercial AgNP treatment that could be used to create plants with higher quality of glycosides for pharmaceutical approaches.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), with great potential as a natural sweeteners source, has a high content of sweeteners, which are up to 150 times sweeter than sugar, but virtually with no calories. Stevia also suitable to be cultivated in semiarid climates and coastal areas, which are characterized by the low quality of the irrigation water. Soil salinity occupies a prominent place among the soil problems that threaten the sustainability of agriculture over a vast area in the world. Glycine betaine is an osmoprotectant, that plays an important role and accumulates rapidly in many plants during salinity or drought stress. In order to evaluation of glycine betaine amending effects on salinity stress in stevia under in vitro condition, a factorial experiment was conducted in 2015. Four NaCl levels, including 0, 50, 75 and 100 mM, along with 0, 1, 12.5, 25 and 50 mM of glycine betaine concentrations were used in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The results showed that salinity levels had significant reduction effects on plant height, root length, shoot fresh weight, number of leaf, total chlorophyll, rebaudioside A and stevioside of the stevia genotype. Due to increasing of glycine betaine, levels all the traits were increased. Owing to amending effect of glycine betaine, its high concentrations made less hazarding effects of salinity on the researched traits. The highest mean value of rebaudioside A (10.62rt) and stevioside (23.38rt) determined at 50 mM of glycine betaine with 0 mM of NaCl concentration.

Plant disease is a major problem for production, and the decrease in crop yield is the worst outcome of these diseases. Some environmental factors can help relieve the effect of disease directly or indirectly. Growing research in nanotechnology has resulted in development of several nanomaterials that can be applied in various fields of industry. With joining the nanotechnology train, micronutrients, pesticide degradation, and nanosensors can be used more efficiently in plant protection and nutrition, as well as pesticide delivery. Using nanoparticles for plant disease prevention and control is an important topic, since their increased efficiency, durability, and especially, their higher surface-to-volume ratio can stimulate interactions with living cells, unique nanosize structure properties, and uncommon superior physicochemical characteristic, which has caused several hybrid nanomaterials, and several organic and inorganic metal oxide nanomaterials, such as silver, nanoforms of carbon, silica, and alumina-silicates CuO, TiO2, ZnO, and Fe3O4-Ag core shell magnetic nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles suppress movement of substrates witting the microbial cell membrane, basal metabolism of electron transfer systems, and respiration. If autonomous nanosensors linked with the GPS system for the purpose of real-time monitoring are distributed across the field to control crop conditions, a farmer can use nanotechnology to detect plant diseases. There is lack of information regarding plant pathogens, but we found out that nanoparticle can be used effectively for pathogen control due to their easy preparation and affordability which are suitable for formation of new herbicidal materials and new types of fungicidal materials.

Among the various abiotic stresses limiting the crop production, salinity stress is the most important problem, which needs to be addressed and answered straight away. A pot experiment was carried out with rapeseed breeding lines in order to study the effects of salinity stress on phenological traits, plant height and seed yield of rapeseed. A factorial experiment was applied for evaluating the eight rapeseed genotypes under three salinity levels including 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 taking NaCl:CaCl2 in the ratio of 1:1, which were equal to 42.8 mM and 85.7 mM, respectively. The results of analysis of the variance revealed significant variations among different salinity levels, genotypes and interaction effects of salinity levels × genotypes for days to flowering, days to end of flowering, days to maturity, plant height and seed yield. Due to increasing salinity levels, days to flowering, days to end of flowering and days to maturity were shortened. Although with increasing salinity levels plant height and seed yield of the genotypes were decreased but the ranks of genotypes were different in 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 salinity levels. The genotypes had significant genetic differences for the traits and the increments of differences also were decreased due to increasing salinity levels. The genotypes had high amount of genetic coefficient variation for days to flowering and seed yield, therefore the efficiency of selection of these two traits will be high. The genotypes including KRN1, LRT1 and Hyola401 with high amounts of seed yield in all salinity levels were considered as tolerant genotypes.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important crop in Iran and other parts of the word and it is also a staple food of nearly one-half of world‘s population contributing high calorie intake. Silicon is considered as a beneficial and nitrogen as an essential element for rice production. In order to study the effects of silicon and nitrogen on some yield components and shoot nutrition ion compositions in rice, a hydroponic culture experiment was conducted under the greenhouse condition. Two factors, including silicon and nitrogen, each one with three levels (0, 50, and 100 ppm) were studied in a completely randomized design in factorial arrangement with 3 replications. The traits including panicle length, unfilled grains, 1000- grain weight and shoot ions including silicon, potassium, and nitrogen were significantly affected by applied silicon levels. All the traits were affected by nitrogen levels except unfilled grains and shoot potassium concentration. The highest grain yield was detected at 100 ppm of silicon application. Shoot silicon ranged from 5.01 to 6.92 ppm in 0 and 100 ppm silicon application. Shoot potassium was increased in high levels of silicon treatment. Significant negative correlation of unfilled grain with shoot silicon and potassium indicated that increasing these shoot ions had reduction effects on unfilled grains. Significant positive correlation was determined between shoot potassium and 1000-grain weight, implied that this trait was affected by indirect effect of silicon via shoot potassium increasing.