titanium dioxide nanoparticles (tio2 nps) promote growth and ameliorate salinity stress effects on essential oil profile and biochemical attributes of Dracocephalum moldavica

considering titanium dioxide nanoparticles (tio2 nps) role in plant growth and especially in plant
tolerance against abiotic stress, a greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluateTiO2 NPs effects
(0, 50, 100 and 200mgL−1) on agronomic traits of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) plants
grown under different salinity levels (0, 50 and 100mM NaCl). Results demonstrated that all agronomic
traits were negatively affected under all salinity levels but application of 100mgL−1tio2 nps mitigated
these negative effects.TiO2 NPs application on Moldavian balm grown under salt stress conditions
improved all agronomic traits and increased antioxidant enzyme activity compared with plants grown
under salinity withouttio2 NP treatment.The application ofTiO2 NPs significantly lowered H2o2
concentration. In addition, highest essential oil content (1.19%) was obtained in 100mgL−1tio2 np-
treated plants under control conditions. ComprehensiveGC/MS analysis of essential oils showed that
geranial, z-citral, geranyl acetate and geraniol were the dominant essential oil components.The highest
amounts for geranial, geraniol and z-citral were obtained in 100mgL−1tio2 np-treated plants under
control conditions. In conclusion, application of 100mgL−1tio2 NPs could significantly ameliorate the
salinity effects in Moldavian balm