In Vitro elicitation of industrial hemp with titanium and silver nanoparticules

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) was used in this study, which is globally very important due to its high seed and fiber yield. The study aimed to investigate the factors affecting plant germination, growth, biochemical and molecular variation under in vitro conditions. The seeds of Narlısaray hemp population and Narlı hemp line were uses as plant material. A two-step protocol was used for surface sterilization using 70% EtOH and 0.1% HgCl2. Thereafter, the seeds were treated with 2% H2O2 v/v for 48 hours and the seeds were cultured on MS medium containing different types of nanoparticle and concentrations. At the end of 17-day in vitro culture, physiological parameters; germination (%), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), and shoot fresh weight (mg) were determined. Similarly, biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total carotenoids and MDA contents were also recorded. The effects of genetic variation using iPBS-retrotransposon primers was also studied. Ag NPs had a negative effect on germination, TiO2 NP gave almost identical germination (%) in comparison to the control. Root length also showed negative effect of both types of NPs compared to the control. Both NP supplements yielded longer shoots with a higher fresh weight compared to the control. The results for biochemical analysis of plants grown under in vitro conditions were non significant, but a variable effect of both NPs was demonstrated compared to control treatments. All primers showed polymorphism among the cannabis clones and confirmed the presence of genetic variations.