Application of chitosan nanopriming on plant growth and secondary metabolites of Pancratium maritimum L

Abstract Background Nanotechnology has demonstrated its vital significance in all aspects of daily life. Our research was conducted to estimate the potential of primed seed with chitosan nanoparticles in seed growth and yield by inducing plant secondary metabolism of Pancratium maritimum L. one of the important medicinal plants. Petri dish and pot experiments were carried out. Seeds of Pancratium maritimum L. were soaked in Nano solution (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/ ml) for 4, 8, 12 h. Germination parameters (germination percentage, germination velocity, speed of germination, germination energy, germination index, mean germination time, seedling shoot and root length, shoot root ratio, seedling vigor index, plant biomass and water content), alkaloids and antioxidant activity of Pancratium maritimum L. were recorded and compared between coated and uncoated seeds. Results Our results exhibited that chitosan nanopriming had a positive effect on some growth parameters, while it fluctuated on others. However, the data showed that most germination parameters were significantly affected in coated seeds compared to uncoated seeds. GC-MS analysis of Pancratium maritimum L. with different nanopriming treatments showed that the quantity of alkaloids decreased, but the amount of pancratistatin, lycorine and antioxidant content increased compared with the control. Conclusions Applying chitosan nanoparticles in priming seeds might be a simple and effective way to improve the quantity of secondary metabolites of Pancratium maritimum L. valuable medicinal plant.