European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM NANOPARTICLES ON PHYSIOLOGY AND STEVIOSIDE IN STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI

Desai Heta B., Desai Charmi V., Suthar K. P.*, Singh D. and Suthar H. G.

ABSTRACT

Nanoparticles are ≤ 100 nm in size, exhibit different properties compared to the bulk material. In most of the reported NP studies on plant both positive and negative impacts have been observed. The present study was aimed to access the effect of Mg-Nanoparticles on the growth and development of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) plant and on stevioside production. The nodal explants were cultured using MS medium under in vitro condition where normal source of Mg+ was replaced with different concentrations of Mg-Nanoparticles (125, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg L-1). The Mg NPs substitution helped to improve leaf length, leaf width, shoot length, number of node culture-1, internodal space and number of shoot culture-1 as compared to negative control (Mg+ devoid media). The reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes viz., CAT, GPOX, and SOD activity was increased in concentration dependent manner upon Mg NPs treatments, but the activity was lower compared to a negative controlled plant. The application of the Mg NPs showed regain of chlorophyll pigment in the plant due to the elimination of Mg+ deficiency. The Mg+ deficiency leads to drastic reduction in stevioside content where as application of Mg NPs leads to improvement in stevioside content in concentration dependent manners, where the concentration of 1000 mg L-1 of Mg NPs showed maximum stevioside content (0.80% FW). In present study the application of Mg NP reported normal plant physiology and stevioside production without any phytotoxic effect.

Keywords: Mg-Nanoparticles, Stevia, Stevioside, Phytotoxicity, ROS.