Effect of BvAgNP on growth, development, and glyoxalase gene expression analysis in Mammillaria bombycina and Selenicereus undatus

Background Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used in plant tissue culture as growth stimulants, promoting bud initiation, germination, and rooting. In prior studies, AgNPs were synthesized and characterized by green synthesis using extracts from Beta vulgaris var. cicla ( Bv AgNP), and their functionality as seed disinfectant and antimicrobial was verified. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Bv AgNP on the growth and development of Mammillaria bombycina and Selenicereus undatus in vitro , as well as the expression of glyoxalase genes. Methods Explants from M. bombycina and S. undatus in vitro were treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/L of Bv AgNP. After 90 days, morphological characteristics were evaluated, and the expression of glyoxalase genes was analyzed by qPCR. Results All treatments inhibited rooting for M. bombycina and no bud initiation was observed. S. undatus , showed a maximum response in rooting and bud generation at 25 mg/L of Bv AgNP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results exhibited a higher number of vacuoles in stem cells treated with Bv AgNP compared to the control for both species. Expression of glyoxalase genes in M. bombycina increased in all treatments, whereas it decreased for S. undatus , however, increasing in roots. Conclusions This study presents the effects of Bv AgNP on the growth and development of M. bombycina and S. undatus , with the aim of proposing treatments that promote in vitro rooting and bud initiation.