Micropropagation has proven to be an effective method for large-scale plant production in a short time and a useful tool for plant breeding. Microbial contamination is one of the most difficult micropropagation challenges, resulting in reduced plant quality and loss of valuable stocks. Therefore, sterilization of culture media is a critical step in plant micropropagation. However, sterilized media might reduce the activity of plant growth regulators and nutritional components of culture media. The sterilization effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on the growth of explants and culture media were examined. The treatment with 250 ppm AgNP for 15 to 20 min of 4-wk-old ex vitro leaves proved optimal for controlling the contamination. Furthermore, the Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4 ppm AgNP resulted in 100% medium disinfection (no contamination) after 4 wk of culture. The plantlets obtained from non-sterilized MS medium (NoM) containing 4 ppm AgNP and 4 g L⁻¹ agar gave similar results as the control medium with 8 g L⁻¹ agar and the absence of AgNP. Large scale culture systems using NoM in large plastic containers of two different sizes (NoM1 and NoM2) could produce quality plantlets. Chrysanthemum plantlets in the NoM1 system showed higher antioxidant enzyme activities of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase than plantlets in the autoclaved medium. Furthermore, the plantlets from NoM were better acclimatized under greenhouse conditions than those from the autoclaved medium (AuM) system. The developmental stages (flower buds and blooming time) of NoM1 and NoM2 plantlets, were 1 wk earlier than those from the AuM system. The successful use of AgNP as a sterilizer and as a component of culture media would reduce the cost of micropropagation and improve plants' quality.

微繁殖已被证明是在短时间内大规模生产植物的有效方法，也是植物育种的有用工具。微生物污染是最困难的微型繁殖挑战之一，导致植物质量下降和有价值的种群损失。因此，培养基的灭菌是植物微繁殖中的关键步骤。但是，灭菌的培养基可能会降低植物生长调节剂的活性和培养基的营养成分。研究了银纳米颗粒（AgNP）对外植体和培养基生长的杀菌作用。用250ppm AgNP 15至20分钟的4周龄的治疗前体外树叶被证明是控制污染的最佳选择。此外，培养4周后，含有4 ppm AgNP的Murashige和Skoog培养基导致100％培养基消毒（无污染）。从含有4 ppm AgNP和4 g L ^-1琼脂的非灭菌MS培养基（NoM）获得的小植株，其结果与含8 g L ^-1的对照培养基相似琼脂和缺乏AgNP。在两种不同大小（NoM1和NoM2）的大型塑料容器中使用NoM的大规模培养系统可以生产出优质的苗。NoM1系统中的菊花苗比抗高压灭菌培养基中的苗显示更高的抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和超氧化物歧化酶的抗氧化酶活性。此外，来自NoM的幼苗在温室条件下的适应性要比来自高压灭菌培养基（AuM）系统的幼苗更好。NoM1和NoM2幼苗的发育阶段（花蕾和开花时间）比AuM系统早了1周。成功地将AgNP用作灭菌剂和培养基的成分，将降低微繁繁殖的成本并提高植物的品质。