Enhanced Somatic Embryogenesis of Some Plants by Silver Nanoparticles

For plant cells, one of the processes that demonstrate totipotency is somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis occurs when embryos develop from somatic or vegetative cells without fertilization. This process can be induced by exposure of specimens to stress or growth regulator treatments under in vitro conditions. On the other hand, with the rapid development of nanotechnology and the positive effects of nanoparticles on plants, the application of nanoparticles in plant tissue culture is increasingly popular. Among them, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the commonly used nanoparticles and have been shown to enhance various aspects of in vitro plant regeneration processes. For somatic embryogenesis, there is evidence that AgNPs at suitable concentrations significantly enhance the induction and proliferation rates of somatic embryos (SEs) as well as the transformation into mature plantlets in many plant species. This chapter presents an overview of some of the effects of AgNPs on somatic embryogenesis in many different plant species.