Assessment the Effect of Concentration and Application Time of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Biochemical Traits and Seed Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Nanoparticles of titanium increase cell growth by improvement of photosynthetic and nitrogen metabolism and therefore, caused an increasing in weight of the plant. This re-search was conducted to evaluate seed yield and biochemical traits of bread wheat affected by different levels of titanium dioxide Nanoparticles in Ahvaz region, Khuzestan province, located at southwestern Iran by factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications during 2011-2012 growing season. The factors consisted of foliar application of titanium dioxide Nanoparticles at three growth stages (S₁: Tillering, S₂: Stem elongation, S₃: Ripening) and different concentrations of titanium dioxide at five levels (C₁: 0.01; C₂: 0.03; C₃: 0.05; C₄: 0.07% titanium dioxide Nanoparticles and C₅: 0.06% non-Nano particles of titanium dioxide or Bulk type). The results of analysis of variance indicated that the effect of spraying at different growth stage (except on harvest index and proline) and different concentration of titanium dioxide (except for proline) was significant on all measured traits. Mean comparison result showed the highest seed yield, its components and biochemical traits (expect malon di aldehyde) was achieved in 0.05% concentration at stem elongation stage, but the 0.07% concentration had a lower effect than other concentrations. It should be expected that higher concentrations of nanoparticles have inhibitory or neutral effects on growth trend.