Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on growth, physiological attributes and essential oil production of Mentha arvensis L.

The current study aimed at examining whether titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) can ameliorate the performance of menthol mint/corn mint (Mentha arvensis L.), a medicinally imperative plant. The plants were tested with graded concentrations of TiO2 NPs [0 (control-double distilled water), 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L−1] 40 days after transplantation (DAT), and effects on the growth, photosynthesis, and activities of vital enzymes were assessed at 150 DAT. TiO2 NPs applied at 100 mg L−1 proved most favourable for most of the parameters studied with an upsurge of 13.2% and 11.6% in the activities of carbonic anhydrase and nitrate reductase, respectively, by this concentration as compared to the control. Moreover, the content and yield of plant’s EO recorded a significant enrichment of 26.3% and 109.8%, respectively, compared to the control. An enhancement in the total content (increased by 26.3%) and yield of EO (109.8%) is endorsed to the TiO2 NPs-stimulated enhancement in the growth as well as photosynthetic efficiency. Furthermore, the quality of the EO was improved as an increment of 12.8% and 136.5% was witnessed in the content and yield of menthol compared to the control plants was reported. To conclude, this study demonstrated that foliar application of TiO2 NPs (100 mg L−1) effectively promoted growth, physiology as well as yield of corn mint.