Evaluation of tolerance of tubers Solanum tuberosum to silica nanoparticles

In recent years, researches on the impact of nanometals on the state of soil ecosystems, including silicon, which is known to have a positive effect on plants under stressful conditions, have become relevant. The aim of this study was to assess the biological effects of nanoparticles (NP) of SiO2 on the plant Solanum tuberosum. Testing of biological activity of NP SiO2 on potato tubers was carried out on the example of five concentrations of metal increasing exponentially (0.03, 0.09, 0.18, 0.21, and 0.36g/kg of potatoes) and control (without processing of NP SiO2). We have shown that on the 21st day of the experiment after tuber treatment, the average mass of tuber in concentrations 0.18 and 0.21g/kg of NP SiO2 increased by 6.6% and 2.2%, respectively; stimulation of root length by 27.8-21.0%, the length of sprouts increased to 55.3%, and at a concentration of 0.36g/kg on the 14th and 45th days, there was a maximum accumulation of Si in different parts of the plants. Analysis of chlorophyll content in the sprouts Solanum tuberosum showed that concentrations of nanoform SiO2 0.03-0.21g/kg chlorophyll were higher than control by 48.8% and content of carotenoids by 29.7%. According to the results of field studies, the maximum mass of potato stems and tubers was observed at concentrations of 0.09g/kg and 0.18g/kg NP SiO2, which confirmed the absence of toxic properties of NP SiO2. The absence of the toxic effect of the investigated range of concentrations of NP SiO2 from 0.03 to 0.36g/kg was also confirmed by electrophoretic mobility of plant DNA molecules after incubation with silicon nanoparticles in vitro.