Effects of surface sterilisation with green synthesised silver nanoparticles on Lamiaceae seeds.

Nanoparticles have been used in many areas of biotechnology. In this study, an alternative surface sterilisation method was established for plant tissue cultures. Silver nanoparticles synthesised via green synthesis were used for the surface sterilisation of Lamiaceae seeds (Salvia farinecae, Ocimum basilicum - Large Leaf Italian, Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens). Water extracts of dried Alkanna tinctorum rhizomes and Syzygium aromaticum flowers were utilised in the bioreduction of silver ions. The seeds were exposed to 0, 1, 7, 14 and 28 day-old colloidal solutions of silver nanoparticles and their effects on germination and surface sterilisation were determined. Fresh (0 and 1 day-old) colloidal solutions of silver nanoparticles were found very effective on surface sterilisation (100%). Moreover, they showed no negative effect on both germination and morphology of plantlets. It was shown that silver nanoparticles can be used as a surface sterilisation agent and they have no adverse effects on seed germination and in vitro plantlet growth.