Impact of synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials on seedlings production of three Solanaceae crops

Abstract

A B S T R A C TProspective involvement of metal oxide nanomaterials as a prominent agriculture practice for improving existing crop production directed the present investigation for synthesizing of ZnO and TiO 2 nanomaterials as an attempt to enhance the transplants production of some Solanaceae crops. The morphological characterizations of the prepared nanomaterials indicated that the hydrothermal synthesized ZnO was produced in nanorod structure with an average aspect ratio of 7. However, SEM and TEM micrographs of microwave prepared TiO 2 evident that it has a nanoparticle structure with an average diameter of 43 nm. The BET results confirmed the high specific areas of the two prepared metal oxide nanomaterials. The two synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials were coated in gel and mixed with the seeds of eggplant, pepper and tomato crops at four concentrations 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L, whilst the control seeds were germinated in distilled water without gel-coating. The results pointed to the outstanding effect of TiO 2 and ZnO nanoparticles on germination characters and seedlings growth. The maximum transplants lengths, fresh and dry weight were recorded at the level 100 mg/L whatever the crop plant used. Hastening germination operation of nanomaterials-gel coated seedlings compared to control plants may be ascribed to the reduction of mean germination time and coefficient variation of the germination process besides increasing the mean germination rate and the synchrony of germination traits. Overall, better performance of growing transplants has been accredited for nanoparticles-gel coated seedlings more than the control treatments which could be efficient for the safer production of transplants in an innovative way.

Green Synthesis of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles from Berberis balochistanica Stem for Investigating Bioactivities

“…Recently, NPs have also been used as biofertilisers in the agricultural field for enhancing nutrients uptake, breaking seed dormancy and reducing the application of hazardous agrochemicals [ 33 ]. Therefore, green synthesis of NPs might be useful for controlled release of fertiliser, plant growth mediation and green alternative to agrochemicals.…”

“…In short, at a lower quantity, these green synthesised BBS-NiONPs are biocompatible and have the ability to speed up seed germination by breaking seed dormancy and can act as a growth-promoting agent. The positive response of seeds toward lower concentrations of BBS-NiONPs might be due to various factors such as infiltration of NPs, releasing ions and making a suitable environment for oxygen and water uptake, hence breaking seed dormancy and promoting seedling growth [ 33 , 37 ]. These findings indicate that apart from their potential in the biomedical field, green synthesised NPs could be effectively used in agricultural fields as nano fertilisers as well as stimulatory agents for plant physiology.…”

Antioxidants and Bioactive Compounds in Licorice Root Extract Potentially Contribute to Improving Growth, Bulb Quality and Yield of Onion (Allium cepa)

“…42) to obtain the condensed brown liquid extracts. Gelatin (Sigma-Aldrich) (2 g L −1 ) was added to the filtered solutions of both LRE1 and LRE2 following the methodology of Younes et al [ 50 ]. The resultant mixture was then heated at 30 ± 2 °C with stirring until properly mixed and stored for the treatments of onion bulbs.…”

Dual Effect of Nanomaterials on Germination and Seedling Growth: Stimulation vs. Phytotoxicity

“…Up to now, in most experiments, germination tests have been executed in Petri dishes applying NM-containing agar or wet filter paper, and it has been assessed that the exposition to NMs may affect the efficiency of germination (with parameters like germination percentage, mean germination time or seedling vigor index) and the early plant growth (radicle/root length and plumule/shoot length, see [ 44 ]), as we will discuss it in this review.…”