Responses of bimetallic Ag/ZnO alloy nanoparticles and urea on morphological and physiological attributes of wheat

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important staple food crop globally. According to economic survey 2018-19, agriculture sector of Pakistan grew by 0.85%, with wheat accounting for 8.9% of agriculture and 1.6% of GDP, and its production fell short of the target by 4.9%. Wheat requires beneficial ties to improve its efficiency with the help of modern technology. Nanotechnology modifies conventional agricultural practices as these are stimulating agents for plant growth. Green bimetallic Ag/ZnO alloy nanoparticles (NPs) synthesised from salts reduced by Moringa oleifera and characterised by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy are studied herein. Different concentrations of urea and Ag/ZnO alloy NPs were applied exogenously to wheat plants (Pakistan-13 and Galaxy13). A significant effect of 100 mg/L urea and 75 ppm Ag/ZnO alloy NPs was observed on the morphology of wheat, with a maximum increase of 58% plant length, 85% leaf area, 89% plant fresh weight and 76% plant dried weight. In physiological parameters, relative water content and membrane stability index have shown maximum increases of 39% and 77%, while chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll content (TCC) showed maximum increases of 92%, 71%, and 84% respectively. Evidence of the morpho-physiological responses of urea and green synthesised alloy NPs on wheat varieties are reported on.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Light Tailoring: Impact of UV-C Irradiation on Biosynthesis, Physiognomies, and Clinical Activities of Morus macroura-Mediated Monometallic (Ag and ZnO) and Bimetallic (Ag–ZnO) Nanoparticles

“…Absorption peaks were in high wavelength region, which clearly suggested the formation of bimetallic Ag-ZnO NPs. Similarly, 2 peaks for Ag/ZnO bimetallic NPs were measured between 330 nm and 366-379 nm, confirming the formation of bimetallic Ag/ZnO alloy NPs from Moringa oleifera leaf extract [31].…”

Microbially synthesised agriculturally useful urea nanoparticles have no phytotoxicity and show enhanced fertilising effects in Kharif (monsoon) paddy

“…Therefore, it can be proposed that by using urea nanoparticles, the direct uptake of NH 4 + can speed up its entry into the glutamine cycle by circumventing the conversion from N-NO 3 − . Such increases in fresh-weights have been reported previously on sweet corn using urea provided with vermicompost and azocompost [48], wheat using bimetallic silver/zinc oxide nanocomposite with urea [49], and urea embedded in nanocellulose [50], and rice using urea phosphate [51].…”

Ag/ZnO core–shell NPs boost photosynthesis and growth rate in wheat seedlings under simulated full sun spectrum

“…Prior research underscores the pivotal role of Ag and ZnO NPs in expediting leaf expansion, curtailing leaf senescence and thylakoid lamellae damage, thereby fostering advanced chlorophyll- a and b biosynthesis processes in plants 90 . Ehsan et al 91 reported analogous findings, detailing significant upticks of 92% in chlorophyll- a , 71% in chlorophyll- b , and 84% in total chlorophyll in wheat when exposed to 100 mg/L urea and 75 mg/L bimetallic Ag/ZnO alloy NPs. In concurrence with our observations, the studies of Sharma et al 92 and Sun et al 93 ascertain that Ag and ZnO NPs orchestrate gene expressions that encode regulatory enzymes within the photosynthesis process, consequently fostering substantial enhancements in total chlorophyll content.…”