Influence of Nanoparticles on Plant Growth, Seed quality, Yield and Genetic changes in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Author: Ezhilarasan K., Rame Gowda, Roopashree B. and Umarani K.

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Abstract

The study illustrates the potential usage and beneficial effects of nanochemicals through seed priming. The experiment was conducted on maize cv.MAH 14-138 F1 hybrid pot culture under polyhouse condition with few selected nanochemicals viz., silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxide with two levels (500 and 1000 mg/kg of seeds). The results of the study revealed that polymer coating of SiO2NPs @500 mg per kg of seeds recorded significantly higher plant height (336.27cm), number of leaves (15), stem girth (4.77cm) as compared to untreated control (251.07cm, 13 and 3.09cm, respectively) at 90th day of sowing. Increased cob length (15.95 cm), cob diameter (6.81cm), cob seed weight (105.41 g), cob pith weight (63.90 g), total cob weight (170.64 g), number of seeds per cob (456) and 100 seed weight (26.63 g) recorded in T4 (dry dressing with TiO2 500 mg per kg of seeds) over control (9.87cm, 14.50cm, 45.97g, 21.70g, 71.0g, 300 and 16.14g, respectively). The resultant seeds were harvested at physiological maturity and evaluated for initial seed quality parameters. Seeds dry dressed in TiO2 500 mg/kg recorded maximum germination (95%), shoot length (19.61cm), root length (18.52cm), seedling length (38.13cm), dry weight of seedling (60.79mg/seedling), seedling vigour index-I (3791), seedling vigour index-II (5937), lower electrical conductivity of seed leachate (12.07µS/cm) and higher total dehydrogenase activity (0.547). The findings of the present study clearly suggest that both silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide nanochemicals @500 mg/kg of seeds with or without polymer mediated coating significantly improve maize seed production. Thus, nanoparticles have the potential to improve the growth and production of crops through various mechanisms.

Keywords

Maize hybrid, nanochemicals, seed dry dressing, seed polymer coating, pot culture

Conclusion

The research findings of the study revealed that application of nanochemicals viz., silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide significantly improves the crop performance as well as the seed quality attributes of resultant crop of maize. Seed coating with SiO2 and TiO2 NPs @ 500 mg/kg of seeds both dry dressing and polymer mediated coating found to be most effective over other nano-chemicals seed treatments for effective and positive influence of crop growth and yield in maize. Nanotechnology is a leading technique in agricultural applications to promote plant germination, quality and improved production, protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. It is important to investigate the influence of metallic and non-metallic nanochemicals on morpho and physiological responses of plants and their mechanisms. Moreover, it is necessary of further studies to know about risks related to the usage of nanochemicals and its dosage because of its potential adverse effects in plants. Besides, it is also better to make comparative study on the green synthesis and commercially available nanoparticles of different kind on seed quality improvement and crop performance to nullify the effects of nanochemicals on soil health and biosafety.

References

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How to cite this article

Ezhilarasan K., Rame Gowda, Roopashree B. and Umarani K. (2023). Influence of Nanoparticles on Plant Growth, Seed quality, Yield and Genetic changes in Maize (Zea mays L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(7): 59-65.