Efficiency of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in Callus Induction and Physiological Growth of Portulaca oleracea Seedlings under Water Stress Conditions

Section: Articles
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Rafidain Environment
Pages
40-54

Abstract

   This study aimed to evaluate the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on the growth and response of Portulaca oleracea L. Portulaca oleracea under water stress conditions in tissue culture. The experiment was conducted using MS medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9) of ZnONPs and under three water levels (50%, 70%, and 100%) to simulate water stress. Callus induction and growth were studied, in addition to measuring fresh and dry weight, protein percentage, and proline content after 30 and 60 days of culture. The results showed that the average concentration of 0.6 mg/L of ZnONPs accelerated callus induction and increased its efficiency, improved fresh and dry weight, and increased protein and proline content, especially under moderate and severe water stress conditions. In contrast, higher concentrations (0.9 mg/L) showed an inhibitory effect on most of the studied traits, demonstrating the dual nature of ZnONPs' effect, acting as both stimulatory and inhibitory depending on the concentration used. The results also showed the superiority of peduncles over nodes in callus induction. This study suggests that incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles into tissue culture systems represents a promising approach for enhancing callus growth and mitigating the effects of water stress, while emphasizing the importance of selecting the optimal concentration to achieve the best physiological response.

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Authors

Omar Ghafel Abdullah Al-Jubouri

Rehab Abdul Jabbar Hamed Al-Bakr

Rasha Ismael Khaleel

Identifiers

DOI: 10.33899/jre.v4i2.64218

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