Enhanced shoot and plantlet quality of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Revolution Yellow) cultivar on medium containing silver and cobalt nanoparticles

The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium were investigated with regard to shoot multiplication, in vitro rooting, acclimatization, growth and flowering of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Revolution Yellow) cultivar. The results showed that AgNPs had effects on the shoot multiplication stage, while CoNPs had effects on the in vitro rooting, acclimatization, growth and flowering stages. Single shoots grown on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg L−1 AgNPs recorded optimal shoot multiplication efficiency, with shoots taller than 2 cm in height as well as reduced vitrification and yellowing of the leaf after 4 weeks of culture. In addition, the 2.5 cm shoots cultured on MS medium with 0.0465 mg L−1 CoNPs being used instead of CoCl2.6H2O gave rooting two days earlier and improved in vitro rooting. Moreover, reduction in vitrification, yellowing of the leaf and browning of the explant were observed in the rooting stage. There were reductions in ethylene accumulation and cellulase and pectinase enzyme activities, while the antioxidant activity increased in the rooting stage after 4 weeks, and this all enhanced the survival rate of plantlets in the acclimatization at the nursery stage. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.