Impact of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Seed Germination and its Growth

Abstract

In the present investigation, impact of pre-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles as micronutrient was evaluated on germination of seed and seedlings growth of different crops such as mung (Vigna radiate), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) under in vitro conditions. The study was carried out in triplicates with different concentrations of nano-ZnO particles in suspension form under dark conditions at 25º- 35ºC. In wheat, 500 ppm of ZnO NPs promoted radical growth, in mung 1000 ppm promoted radical growth, where as in rice maximum radical growth was observed at 100 ppm and maximum plumule length was observed at 50 ppm. 100% seed germination was observed in rice and mung at all tested concentrations of ZnO NPs along with control, whereas in wheat 100% seed germination was observed at 100-500 ppm of ZnO NPs. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles had both positive as well as negative effect on different crops such as mung (Vigna radiate), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa). Nanoparticles can be synthesized by various physical and chemical methods, which are generally toxic, releases hazardous chemicals and require high temperature. In the present investigation, green approach was used for the synthesis of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in which Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized from Haematococcus using zinc acetate as metal precursor. After the synthesis of nanoaparticles, characterization of nanoparticles for composition, structure, shape and size is done via. FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDS etc.