Application of nanomaterials for agriculture is relatively new as compared to their use in biomedical and industrial sectors. In order to promote sustainable nanoagriculture, biocompatible silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized through green route using kaffir lime leaf extract for use as nanopriming agent for enhancing seed germination of rice aged seeds. Results of various characterization techniques showed the successful formation of AgNPs which were capped with phytochemicals present in the plant extract. Rice aged seeds primed with phytosynthesized AgNPs at 5 and 10 ppm significantly improved germination performance and seedling vigor compared to unprimed control, AgNO3 priming, and conventional hydropriming. Nanopriming could enhance α-amylase activity, resulting in higher soluble sugar content for supporting seedlings growth. Furthermore, nanopriming stimulated the up-regulation of aquaporin genes in germinating seeds. Meanwhile, more ROS production was observed in germinating seeds of nanopriming treatment compared to unprimed control and other priming treatments, suggesting that both ROS and aquaporins play important roles in enhancing seed germination. Different mechanisms underlying nanopriming-induced seed germination were proposed, including creation of nanopores for enhanced water uptake, rebooting ROS/antioxidant systems in seeds, generation of hydroxyl radicals for cell wall loosening, and nanocatalyst for fastening starch hydrolysis.

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This paper reports the synthesis of platelike CeO 2 nanoparticles by a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method using cerium(III) acetate hydrate and freshly extracted egg white (ovalbumin) in an aqueous medium. A platelike structure of CeO 2 nanoparticles having the particle size of 6-30 nm was obtained by calcining the precursors in air at 400, 500, and 600 °C, for 2 h. Results from XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SAED analysis indicated that the synthesized CeO 2 nanoparticles have the fluorite structure of the bulk CeO 2 . All samples show a strong UV-vis absorption below 400 nm (3.10 eV) with a welldefined absorbance peak at around 284 nm (4.37 eV). The estimated direct band gaps are 3.61, 3.59, and 3.57 eV for the samples calcined at 400, 500, and 600 °C, respectively. These band gaps are 0.42, 0.40, and 0.38 eV higher than that of bulk CeO 2 , indicating the quantum confinement effect of the nanosize particles. The 400 and 500 °C calcined samples exhibited similar emission peaks of room-temperature photoluminescence. However, the sample calcined at 600 °C exhibited the strongest UV emission band at 392 nm (3.17 eV) because of its better-defined crystallinity compared to the other two samples calcined at 400 and 500 °C.

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Magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) nanostructures were successfully fabricated by electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that calcination of the as-spun MgFe2O4/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) composite nanofibers at 500–800 °C in air for 2 h resulted in well-developed spinel MgFe2O4nanostuctures. The crystal structure and morphology of the nanofibers were influenced by the calcination temperature. Crystallite size of the nanoparticles contained in nanofibers increased from 15 ± 4 to 24 ± 3 nm when calcination temperature was increased from 500 to 800 °C. Room temperature magnetization results showed a ferromagnetic behavior of the calcined MgFe2O4/PVP composite nanofibers, having their specific saturation magnetization (Ms) values of 17.0, 20.7, 25.7, and 31.1 emu/g at 10 Oe for the samples calcined at 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C, respectively. It is found that the increase in the tendency ofMsis consistent with the enhancement of crystallinity, and the values ofMsfor the MgFe2O4samples were observed to increase with increasing crystallite size.