<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of post-harvest application of silver nanoparticles (N-Ag) and dark storage on plastid pigments, petal abscission, lipid peroxidation and activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) in pelargonium cultivars ‘Blue Wonder’ and ‘Anthony’. N-Ag was applied as foliar spray in concentrations 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg·cm-3 and then the plants were stored for 5 days in a growth chamber in darkness at temperature 20±2 °C and relative humidity 65%. The results revealed that after dark storage the petal abscission of cv. ‘Blue Wonder’ increased up to 40% but significantly decreased in plants treated with 60 mg·cm-3 of N-Ag. Cultivar ‘Anthony’ showed lesser petal abscission than ‘Blue Wonder’, namely 25% in control and 4% after treatment with 60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag. In both cultivars, treatment with N-Ag resulted in higher contents of leaf chlorophylls and carotenoids in comparison to untreated control. In response to treatments with 20-60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag, the activity of APX and POD was higher at the end of 5 days storage period than in the control plants, which coincided with improved post-harvest performance of both pelargonium cultivars. The enhancement of enzyme activities indicated possible beneficial effect of the applied treatment on alleviation of dark storage-induced oxidative stress. Also, in both cultivars, MDA content decreased significantly with the increase of N-Ag concentration up to 60 mg·cm-3 and then a rapid increase at 80 mg·cm-3 followed. It is concluded that treatment with silver nanoparticles is effective for preventing dark storage-induced petal abscission of pelargonium.</abstract>

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of post-harvest application of silver nanoparticles (N-Ag) and dark storage on plastid pigments, petal abscission, lipid peroxidation and activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) in pelargonium cultivars ‘Blue Wonder’ and ‘Anthony’. N-Ag was applied as foliar spray in concentrations 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg·cm-3 and then the plants were stored for 5 days in a growth chamber in darkness at temperature 20±2 °C and relative humidity 65%. The results revealed that after dark storage the petal abscission of cv. ‘Blue Wonder’ increased up to 40% but significantly decreased in plants treated with 60 mg·cm-3 of N-Ag. Cultivar ‘Anthony’ showed lesser petal abscission than ‘Blue Wonder’, namely 25% in control and 4% after treatment with 60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag. In both cultivars, treatment with N-Ag resulted in higher contents of leaf chlorophylls and carotenoids in comparison to untreated control. In response to treatments with 20-60 mg·cm-3 N-Ag, the activity of APX and POD was higher at the end of 5 days storage period than in the control plants, which coincided with improved post-harvest performance of both pelargonium cultivars. The enhancement of enzyme activities indicated possible beneficial effect of the applied treatment on alleviation of dark storage-induced oxidative stress. Also, in both cultivars, MDA content decreased significantly with the increase of N-Ag concentration up to 60 mg·cm-3 and then a rapid increase at 80 mg·cm-3 followed. It is concluded that treatment with silver nanoparticles is effective for preventing dark storage-induced petal abscission of pelargonium.

Effect of Nanosilver on Physiological Performance of Pelargonium Plants Exposed to Dark Storage

Department of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran

Journal of Horticultural Research

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of post-harvest application of silver nanoparticles (N-Ag) and dark storage on plastid pigments, petal...

Effect of Nanosilver on Physiological Performance of Pelargonium Plants Exposed to Dark Storage

Published Online: Jul 30, 2013

Page range: 15 - 20

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2013-0003

This content is open access.