Elicitation of secondary metabolites and physiological changes in ipomea turbinata and convolvulusarvensis plantlets exposed to green synthesized silver nanoparticles

The current study focuses on the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an elicitor to enhance the secondary metabolite content of Ipomea turbinata and Convulvulus arvensis plantlets. Six different concentrations of AgNPs were used to evaluate the effect of AgNPs on the phenology and secondary metabolite content of I. turbinata and C. arvensis. The shoot and root length of I. turbinata was inhibited with increasing AgNPs concentration. In case of C. arvensis, the root length was increased whereas shoot length was inhibited upon treatment with AgNPs. On the other hand, the biochemical analysis showed significant variation in plant phytochemicals especially the total flavonoid content which were increased two folds as a result of AgNPs treatment compared to the control. With such a promising result, it can be concluded that AgNPs is effective in the enhanced production of commercially important secondary metabolites (such as flavonoids and phenolics contents) compared to production in low amounts under normal growth conditions.