Abstract
Studies on nanoparticles' effects on plants are relevant for horticulture. This study aimed to test the influence of zinc oxide submicron particles (ZnO SMPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles combined with silver nanoparticles (ZnO+1%Ag NPs) applied at 100 and 500 mg·L(-1) on the regeneration and biochemical activity of adventitious shoots in Chrysanthemum × morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl. 'UTP Burgundy Gold' and 'UTP Pinky Gold'. The original microwave solvothermal synthesis and characteristics of the ZnO samples were described. Internodes were cultured on the MS medium with 0.6 mg∙L(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2 mg∙L(-1) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In 'UTP Burgundy Gold', the highest shoot regeneration efficiency was obtained for 100 mg·L(-1) ZnO SMPs and 500 mg·L(-1) ZnO NPs treatments (6.50 and 10.33 shoots per explant, respectively). These shoots had high or moderate chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. In 'UTP Pinky Gold', the highest shoot number was produced in the control (12.92), for 500 mg·L(-1) ZnO SMPs (12.08) and 500 mg·L(-1) ZnO NPs (10.42). These shoots had increased chlorophyll (a+b)-to-carotenoid ratios. In 'UTP Pinky Gold', the ZnO SMPs and ZnO NPs affected the anthocyanins biosynthesis, whereas ZnO + 1%Ag NPs decreased the phenolics accumulation. These results are important for the improvement of chrysanthemum micropropagation.