magnetic fields and titanium dioxide nanoparticles promote saffron performance: a greenhouse experiment

Purpose: plants are naturally influenced by magnetic fields. on the other hand, the application of titanium dioxide (tio_2) nanoparticles may improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of plants. research method: the effect of magnetic field and nano and bulktio_2 was studied on the yield of saffron in nishabur county, iran. the treatments included 5mt magnetic field (at three levels of control, exerted magnet tapes into substrate, and the 24hour exposure of the corms to the magnets) and tio_2 (at five levels of 0 as control, 1000 and 2000 ppm nanosizedtio_2, and 1000 and 2000 ppm bulk tio_2). during the growing season petal fresh and dry weight, flower fresh weight, stigma dry weight and corm weight were recorded.  findings: the results showed that studied traits were significantly (p  < 0.01) influenced by the magnetic field and nanotio_2. the highest stigma dry weight was related to the treatment of 2000 ppm nanotio_2 and 48hour exposure to the magnetic field, showing an insignificant difference with 1000 ppm nanotio_2. application of tio_2 nanoparticles in 2000 ppm increased stigma dry weight by 14.7 % and corm weight by 51 % compared to the control. exposure of corms to magnetic field in planting media and pretreatment with it, increased corm weight by 13.6 and 26 % in comparing to control, respectively. limitations: no limitations were founded. originality/value: according to the results, it is possible to use magnetic fields and tio_2 nanoparticles to stimulate the growth of corms and flower of saffron.