Undeniable Positive Impacts of Metal Nanoparticles in Plant Tissue Culture

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing and exciting subject of science that allows for advanced research in many fields. Nanotechnological advancements may also lead to novel biotechnological and agricultural applications. However, this rapid development leads to concern about the possible negative impact of nanoparticles on the environment and living organisms. Hence, the research and application of nanoparticles is being evaluated in detail in many aspects. The application of metal nanoparticles under controlled in vitro conditions is a potential direction to exploit the potentials optimally. The enormous potential for applying metal nanoparticles has proven intriguing for plant tissue culture. Many studies have demonstrated that the application of nontoxic concentrations can positively influence many processes, such as promoting seed germination, callogenesis, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, in vitro rooting, etc. Metal nanoparticles have been shown as growth promoters for many plant species in vitro. Nanoparticles also can act as a disinfectant and a direct source of additional micronutrients in the culture medium. In addition, some metal nanoparticles are used as elicitation for producing bioactive compounds in many plant species. In this chapter, we present an overview of the positive and potential effects of several metal nanoparticles on plant tissue culture.