The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on drought resistance of Caucasian Alder (Alnus subcordata C.A.Mey) in Germination Stage

Current research aimed to evaluate the effect of nano priming using multi-walled carbon nanotubes on drought tolerance of Caucasian alder. This study was employed a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications. Drought stress was applied in the laboratory, using a solution of polyethylene glycol 6000 at 0, -2, -4, -6, and -8 bar on the primed seeds with concentrations of 0, 10, 30, 50 and 100 mg l-1 of carbon nanotubes. The results showed significant effect of nano priming and drought stress on germination factors such as germination rate and percentage, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight and root to shoot fresh weight at the probability of 99%. The highest germination rate and percentage at all levels of drought stress, was related to100 mg l-1 of nano carbon treatment. The highest fresh weight of root and shoot at all levels of drought stress was related to 30 mg l-1 of nano carbon treatment. According to the results of this experiment it could be concluded that nano-priming improve seed germination characteristics of alder tree under drought stress.