Effect of silver nanoparticles on salt tolerance of Satureja hortensis l. during in vitro and in vivo germination tests

This study to evaluate the effects of silver nanoparticles on the salinity tolerance of (<i>Satureja hortensis</i> L.). The study done based on factorial experiment using a completely randomized design, in a laboratory and greenhouse in Islamic Azad University of Khoy, Iran in 2015. Silver nanoparticles concentrations were 0, 40, 60, and 80 ppm and salt concentrations 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mM l^-1. Germination seeds of <i>Satureja hortensis</i> were counted twice a day for 14 days at laboratory. Then seedling transferred to the greenhouse and their growth continued. Traits measured were seedling weight, seedling lengths, germination rates, germination averages, germination potentials, and percentages of germination. Results showed that the silver nanoparticles improved significantly germination average; plants shoot length and increased plants resistance to salinity. Results showed that a significant reduction in germination percent and seedling growth due to the salinity stress while significantly increased with nano-particles application. In control treatment (without silver nanoparticle) and low level of salinity (0 mM l^-1) increased seed germination percentage, while the high levels of salinity inhibited the seed germination significantly. The results showed that the effect of silver nanoparticles was significant on germination percentage in <i>P</i> ≤ 0.05. Overall, application of silver nanoparticles was beneficial in improving salinity tolerance in the <i>S. hortensis</i> seedling and its application may stimulate the differences defense mechanisms of plants against salt toxicity.