Use of nanoparticles to improve seed germination and seedlings abiotic stress tolerance

地表采矿、原地开采和线性扰动特征造成的土地退化和破碎可产生不利的环境和社会影响。土地复垦策略结合种子引发技术，可用于改善植物建立和北方森林植被重建的成功后，人为干扰。该项目包括三个实验，旨在确定多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs）对种子萌发，早期幼苗建立，并在选定的本地北方森林物种的幼苗非生物胁迫耐受性诱导的影响。实验I的目的是确定纳米灌注对种子萌发和早期幼苗建立的影响。这将调查最有效的组合和浓度的多壁碳纳米管和分层的持续时间对种子发芽的五个本地北方物种，包括chokecherry，熊果，常见的蓝莓，低灌木蔓越莓和红醋栗。实验II的目的是研究种子纳米灌注对所选本地北方物种幼苗的非生物（盐和干旱）胁迫耐受性诱导的潜在影响。我们将评估纳米灌注对非生物胁迫耐受性的影响，并确定CNT的最佳浓度以提高秋杨柳、Bebb的杨柳和颤白杨的非生物胁迫耐受性。最后，实验III的目的是研究纳米悬浮液叶面施用对颤白杨，水牛莓，低灌木蔓越莓和红柳山茱萸幼苗耐旱性和植物生长的影响，所采用的方法应提供一个潜在的开垦策略，使用既定的农业实践，在非生物胁迫的存在下，限制本地北方森林物种发芽和建立。这些方法也仍然相对便宜，可以在大面积上应用，并具有长期补救潜力。这项研究还将提供大学和学院研究人员与学生之间的合作机会。

Land degradation and fragmentation caused by surface mining, in-situ extraction, and linear disturbance features can have adverse environmental and social impacts. Land reclamation strategies combined with seed priming technology can potentially be used to improve plant establishment and revegetation success of boreal forests following anthropogenic disturbances. This project consists of three experiments aiming to determine the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on seed germination, early seedling establishment, and abiotic stress tolerance induction in seedlings of selected native boreal forest species. The objective of Experiment I is to determine the effect of nanopriming on seed germination and early seedling establishment. This will investigate the most effective combinations and concentrations of MWCNTs and the duration of stratification on seed germination of five native boreal species, including chokecherry, bearberry, common blueberry, low-bush cranberry, and red currant. The objective of Experiment II is to investigate the potential effect of seed nanopriming on abiotic (salinity and drought) stress tolerance induction in seedlings of selected native boreal species. We will evaluate the effects of nanopriming on abiotic stress tolerance and determine the optimum concentration of CNTs to improve the abiotic stress tolerance of autumn willow, Bebb's willow, and trembling aspen. Finally, the objective of Experiment III is to investigate the effect of nano-suspension foliar application on drought tolerance and plant growth in seedlings of trembling aspen, buffaloberry, low bush cranberry, and red osier dogwood.The methods employed should provide insight into a potential reclamation strategy, using established agricultural practices, in the presence of abiotic stressors, limiting native boreal forest species germination and establishment. These methods also remain relatively inexpensive, can be applied over a large area, and have long-term remediation potential. This research will also provide a collaborative opportunity between between University and College researchers and students.