Abstract
The present study investigated the influence of seed priming with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), 0, 2, 5 and 10 mM, on growth and biochemical parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salt stress. As expected, 150 mM of NaCl decreased the shoot fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll contents and increased the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Salinity enhanced the concentration of proline, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Seed priming with Ag NPs increased the shoot fresh and dry weight of normal and salt-stressed plants. Lower concentration of Ag NPs decreased the total soluble sugars and proline contents, while the higher Ag NPs levels increased these contents compared to the control. The combined application of Ag NPs and salt stress increased the soluble sugars and proline contents, while it decreased CAT activity and increased POD activity compared to the respective Ag NPs treatments alone. Overall, our results demonstrated that Ag NPs enhanced the salt tolerance in wheat, but the long-term response of Ag NPs under salt stress needs further investigation.