Copper nanoparticles elevate regeneration capacity of (Ocimum basilicum L.) plant via somatic embryogenesis

The current work, was conducted to investigate the influences of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) compared to copper sulfate on plant regeneration of Ocimum basilicum through somatic embryogenesis. To achieve this goal, the Cu-NPs with a size range of (20–40 nm) were chemically synthesized and characterized by the spectrophotometer and the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Thereafter, various concentrations (0.1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 µM) of Cu-NPs or CuSO4·5H2O were added to the culture media. The results proved that the inclusion of Cu-NPs (5 µM) significantly increased the percentage of explants produced somatic embryos (from 15 to 84%) and the average number of regenerated plantlets/explant (from 4.3 to 18.7) in comparison to the control treatment (0.1 µM CuSO4·5H2O). In addition, the results evidently proved that the use of copper in the crystalline form as Cu-NPs is superior to the ionic form as CuSO4·5H2O. Thus the use of Cu-NPs (5 µM) increased the percentage of explants produced somatic embryos from (36–84%) and the average number of regenerated plantlets/explant (from 7.4 to 18.7) compared to CuSO4·5H2O (5 µM). Finally, the elevated regeneration capacity of basil plant via somatic embryogenesis proved that an efficient protocol was achieved in this study as a promising step in the field of plant nanobiotechnology.