Silver Nanoparticles as an Antimicrobial Agent in theTissue Culture of Aglaonema commutatum Plant
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56286/NTU-JAVS.2026.6.3.290-295Keywords:
Aglaonema commutatum, Benzyladenine, Contamination control, Gibberellic acid, Silver nanoparticles.Abstract
Aglaonema commutatum is a popular ornamental foliage plant valued for its attractive variegated leaves, shade tolerance, and adaptability to interior landscaping. Due to its commercial demand and the limitations of conventional propagation methods, micropropagation has become an essential technique for producing uniform and disease-free planting material. However, microbial contamination remains a critical challenge in in vitro culture, often reducing culture efficiency and increasing production costs. This study investigated the interaction between plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments and silver nanoparticle (AgNP) exposure duration on contamination control, browning incidence, and regeneration of A. commutatum bud explants cultured in vitro. Explants were exposed to AgNPs for 30, 45, and 60 minutes and cultured under four PGR combinations: T1 (0.5 mg L⁻¹ BA + 0.5 mg L⁻¹ GA), T2 (1.0 mg L⁻¹ BA + 0.5 mg L⁻¹ GA), T3 (1.5 mg L⁻¹ BA + 0.5 mg L⁻¹ GA), and T4 (2.0 mg L⁻¹ BA + 0.5 mg L⁻¹ GA). At 30 minutes, all treatments exhibited complete suppression of contamination and browning (0.00%), with T1 and T2 achieving 100% regeneration. Longer exposure durations (45–60 minutes) led to increased contamination (33.33 –100%), browning in some treatments, and a sharp decline in regeneration. These results indicate that short-term AgNP exposure combined with low BA concentrations is highly effective for disinfection and shoot regeneration. The use of AgNPs offers a promising, alternative to conventional sterilization methods in the micropropagation of ornamental plants.
References
Adebomojo, A. and Abdulrahaman, A. (2020). Surface sterilization of ocimum seeds and tissues with biosynthesized nanosilver and its effects on callus induction. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 805(1), 012024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/805/1/012024
Agbadje, E. T. A. E., Agbidinoukoun, A., Zandjanakou-Tachin, M., CACAÏ, G. T. H., & Ahanhanzo, C. (2021). Mass production of bananas and plantains (musa spp.) plantlets through in vitro tissue culture partway: a review. European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, 2(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejbio.2021.2.4.229
Ahmadi, E., Nasr, S. M. H., Jalilvand, H., & Savadkoohi, S. K. (2012). Contamination control of microbe ziziphus spina [christti] seed in vitro culture. Trees, 26(4), 1299-1304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0705-8
Alfarraj, N. S., Tarroum, M., Al-Qurainy, F., Nadeem, M., Khan, S., Salih, A. M., Shaikhaldein, H. O., Al-Hashimi, A., Alansi, S., & Perveen, K. (2023). Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Exploring Their Potential of Reducing the Contamination of the In Vitro Culture Media and Inducing the Callus Growth of Rumex nervosus Explants. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(9), 3666. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093666
Chandran, H., Meena, M., Sharma, K., & Prasad, R. (2014). Nanoparticles in plant tissue culture: a review. Plant Cell Reports, 33(2), 299–314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1539-0
Chen, J., Devanand, P. S., Norman, D. J., Henny, R. J., & CHAO, C. C. T. (2004). Genetic relationships of Aglaonema species and cultivars inferred from AFLP markers. Annals of Botany, 93(2), 157-166., https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mch025
George, E. F., Hall, M. A., & De Klerk, G.-J. (2008). Plant propagation by tissue culture (3rd ed.).
Murashige, T., & Skoog, F. (1962). A Revised Medium for Rapid Growth and Bio Assays with Tobacco Tissue Cultures. Physiology Plant. 15, 179-473. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1962.tb08052.x
Permadi, N., Nurzaman, M., Alhasnawi, A. N., Doni, F., & Julaeha, E. (2023). Managing lethal browning and microbial contamination in musa spp. tissue culture: synthesis and perspectives. Horticulturae, 9(4), 453. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040453
Pulit-Prociak, J., & Banach, M. (2016). Silver nanoparticles—a material of the future…? Materials Science and Engineering: C, 62, 471–492.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2016.01.017
Rai, M., Yadav, A., & Gade, A. (2014). Silver nanoparticles as a new generation of antimicrobials. Biotechnology Advances, 27(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.09.002
Salem, W., Leitner, D. R., Zingl, F. G., Schratter, G., Prassl, R., Goessler, W., … & Schild, S. (2015). Antibacterial activity of silver and zinc nanoparticles against vibrio cholerae and enterotoxic escherichia coli. International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 305(1), 85-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.11.005
Sarmast, M. K., Salehi, H. & Khosh-Khui, M. (2011). Nano Silver Treatment is Effective in Reducing Bacterial Contaminations of Araucaria excelsa R. Br. var. Glauca Explants. Biologia Futura, 62, 477–484. DOI: 10.1556/ABiol.62.2011.4.12
Sharma, V. K., Yngard, R. A., & Lin, Y. (2012). Silver nanoparticles: green synthesis and their antimicrobial activities. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 145(1–2), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2008.09.002
Silva, J. A. T. d., W?narto, B., Dobránszki, J., & Zeng, S. (2015). Disinfection procedures for in vitro propagation of anthurium. Folia Horticulturae, 27(1), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1515/fhort-2015-0009
Street, E., Schabauer, J., Korjenic, A. (2025). Evaluating Particulate Matter Reduction by Indoor Plants in a Recirculating Air System. Atmosphere, 16(7), 783. doi:10.3390/atmos16070783
Tripathi, D. K., Singh, S., Singh, S., Pandey, R., Singh, V. P., Sharma, N. C., ... & Dubey, N. K. (2017). An overview on manufactured nanoparticles in plants: uptake, translocation, accumulation and phytotoxicity. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110, 2–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.07.030
Yeh, D.M., Yang, W.J., Chang, F.C., Chung, M.C., Chen, W.L. & Huang, H.W. (2007). Breeding and Micropropagation of Aglaonema. Acta Horticulturae, 755:10.
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Maryam D. Ardakani, Mahboubeh Paknia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.



