The role of molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles replacing sodium molybdate dehydrate in the culture medium on the growth and development of in vitro cultured Chrysanthemum

Abstract

This study replaced sodium molybdate dehydrate (Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O) with molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles solution (MoO₃NPs) in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to evaluate the impact of these nanoparticles on growth and development, the ability to absorb nutrients, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in in vitro cultured Chrysanthemum. The results of the study showed that one-month-old (1 cm) shoot explants were cultured on a medium replacing Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O with MoO₃NPs at a ratio of 1:1 (corresponding to 149 µg/l MoO₃NPs) was the most optimal. After 30 days of culture, the explants exhibited superior growth parameters, including number of shoots/explant (3.00), shoot height (5.40 cm), number of leaves/shoot (14.00), number of stem nodes/shoot (8.67), leaf length (1.30 cm), SPAD (31.17 nmol/cm²) and fresh weight (0.98 g). The activity of antioxidant enzymes in this treatment was also better than that in the positive control (except for SOD) and all other treatments, whereas the lack or excess of Mo in the culture medium also led to a decrease in the activity of SOD, CAT, and APX enzymes. In addition, at a concentration of 149 µg/l MoO₃NPs, plantlets absorb nutrients more effectively and quickly. These findings suggest that replacing Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O in the culture medium with MoO₃NPs will enhance mineral absorption, providing a source of nutrients for plants to support biosynthesis and essential functions.