Effects of nano silicon (SiO2) application on in vitro proliferation of Gala apple cultivar

Silicon has useful effects on growth and yield of many plants. The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of nano silicon oxide on proliferation and improvement of some growth traits of apple, cultivar Gala. Thus, an experiment was designed based on completely randomized design (CRD) with five levels of nano silicon oxide concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 & 200 ppm) in five replications. The means were compared with Duncan̓s Multiple Range Test. Results showed that nano silicon increased fresh and dry weight, length of shoots, number of shoots, and chlorophyll index, in which the highest amount of was observed at 100 ppm silicon oxide. According to the result of this investigation; 100 ppm silicon oxide can be added to MS medium to improve in vitro growth and proliferation rate of cultivar Gala apple explants.