Effects of Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles on Biological and Physiological Characteristics of Medicago sativa L. nothosubsp. varia (Martyn) in Natural Agroclimatic Conditions of the Subtaiga Zone in Western Siberia

This study is aimed at investigating effects of pre-sowing seed treatment of Medicago sativa L . nothosubsp . varia ( Martyn ) Arcang ., Sarga variety, with SiO 2 nanoparticles produced by laser ablation in a liquid. The purpose of the study is to investigate effects of suspensions of silicon dioxide nanoparticles at different concentrations on biological and physiological characteristics of M . sativa L . nothosubsp . varia in natural agroclimatic conditions of the subtaiga zone in Western Siberia. The study has shown that the pre-sowing seed treatment of M . sativa L . nothosubsp . varia ( Martyn ) Arcang ., Sarga variety, with silicon dioxide nanoparticles at different concentrations has a stimulating effect on contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and non-steroidal phytoestrogens in a vegetative part of the plant, as well as biometric and morphometric parameters, yield, and phytoremediation potential. It has been established that M . sativa is hypersensitive to the studied pre-sowing seed treatment with suspensions of SiO 2 nanoparticles at different concentrations, which determines the specificity of changes in physiological parameters, including increase in contents of photosynthetic pigments, isoflavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids in the plant exposed to suspensions of SiO 2 nanoparticles. A significant increase in the content of biologically active substances under the influence of SiO 2 nanoparticles indicates the high sensitivity of M . sativa and the specific role of nanoparticles in stimulating the biosynthesis of biologically active substances. The findings of the study demonstrate that pre-sowing seed treatment of M . sativa L . nothosubsp . varia ( Martyn ) Arcang ., Sarga variety, with ultrafine silicon dioxide nanoparticles at different concentrations, had a stimulating effect on biological and physiological characteristics of M . sativa L . nothosubsp . varia ( Martyn ) Arcang ., Sarga variety.