Influence of Iron Nanoparticles on the Growth of Seedlings of Some Tree Species

Abstract

The effect of Fe nanoparticles (NPs) on the development of seedlings of Scots pine, English oak and silver birch on the territory of the Buzuluk forest of the Derzhavinsky district forestry, Orenburg region, is studied. It is established that the morphobiological reaction of seedlings to the action of Fe NPs is species specific. For pine and birch seedlings, an Fe NP concentration of 100 mmol/L is toxic, 25 mmol/L has a stimulating effect on the growth of pine seedlings and inhibits the growth of birch seedlings, and 6.25 and 1.56 mmol/L has a stimulating effect on the growth of pine and birch seedlings. At the same time, the morphobiological reactions of pine and birch seedlings are similar. The maximum stimulating effect of Fe NPs on pine and birch seedlings is observed at a concentration of 6.25 mmol/L. The length of the main root in pine seedlings increased by 23.1%; for birch, by 18.7%; the number of adventitious roots, by 1.5 and 2.8%, respectively; and the length of adventitious roots, by 14.4 and 12.1%. The oak seedlings in the experiment show a tolerance to all concentrations (the differences between the experiment and control were not significant). The results of the study can be applied in the cultivation of planting Scots pine and silver birch, including the development of micropropagation technologies, as well as pre-sowing seed preparation, the development of plant-protection programs and the use of growth stimulants.