The aim of this review is to critically analyze the role of silver
nitrate (AgNO3) in modulating plant growth and development. In recent
years, basic studies on ethylene regulation opened new vistas for
applied research in the area of micro-propagation, somatic
embryogenesis, in vitro flowering, growth promotion, fruit ripening,
and sex expression. Silver nitrate has proved to be a very potent
inhibitor of ethylene action and is widely used in plant tissue
culture. Few properties of silver nitrate such as easy availability,
solubility in water, specificity and stability make it very useful for
various applications in exploiting plant growth regulation and
morphogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Silver ion mediated responses seem
to be involved in polyamines, ethyleneand calcium- mediated pathways,
and play a crucial role in regulating physiological process including
morphogenesis. The molecular basis for regulation of morphogenesis
under the influence of silver nitrate is completely lacking. This
review compiles published reports of silver nitrate-mediated in vitro
and in vivo studies and focuses on fundamental and applied aspects of
plant growth modulation under the influence of silver nitrate