Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles via Leaf Extracts of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don and Their Application in Improving Seed Germination Potential and Seedling Vigor of Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn

Abstract

The ecofriendly nature of materials used in synthesis and their low cost make biosynthesized nanoparticles excellent stuff for a broad range of applications in bioscience. Green nanomaterials are progressively used in agriculture to deliver plant nutrients efficiently and effectively. The present work aimed to biosynthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) utilizing Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don leaf extracts to use them as a nanopriming agent for improving seed germination and seedling growth in Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn (finger millet). UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDX, and TEM were used to characterize biosynthesized nanoparticles (NPs). The peaks at 362 nm characterized UV-Vis spectra of ZnO NPs. The FTIR absorption spectrum of ZnO NPs showed Zn-O bending at 547 cm−1. The size (44.5 nm) and shape (nonspherical) of ZnO NPs were revealed by TEM image analysis. XRD confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO with an average particle size of 35.19. The seed germination results revealed that ZnO-nanoprimed seeds at 500 mg/L substantially improved all the seed germination parameters, viz., plumule length (23.4%), radicle length (55%), vigor index (41.94%), and dry matter production (54.6%) compared to hydropriming (control).

Reduction in insect attachment ability by biogenic and non-biogenic ZnO nanoparticles

“…26 Recent studies have shown that ZnO-NPs can be used for treating crops, thus improving seed germination, plant vigor index, physiological and biochemical traits, and biomass production. 42,46,47 In addition, the biogenic ZnO-NPs obtained from duckweed (the same used in the present study) revealed a beneficial effect in maize and olive tree explants. 21,29 As for maize, the biogenic ZnO-NPs positively influenced the chlorophyll and carotenoid content and the cellular redox state, and stimulated biomass production.…”

Antibacterial and phytotoxicological properties assessment of Momordica charantia extract‐based ZnO nanoparticles

“…Additionally, Subbaiah et al 38 showed how raw-ZnO-NPs (mean size was 25 nm) improved the percentage of germination in maize seeds at 1500 mg L −1 . The germinating percentage of finger millet seeds significantly increased at ZnO-NP concentrations of 100 and 500 mg L −1 compared to control, while it decreased at 1000 mg L −1 concentration, according to Mishra et al, 39 who synthesized ZnO-NPs using Catharanthus roseus (L.) leaf extract. After taking everything into account, it was shown that ZnO-NPs, regardless of their concentration, color, traditional method of synthesis or form, have no adverse impact on the germination of wheat seeds.…”

“…A healthy seed germination and early seedling stage are important for plants, helping to tolerate stress factors successfully, and significantly affecting the growth of plants. 39 It is crucial to measure the root (radicle) and shoot (plumule) elongation in addition to germination percentage when analyzing the positive or negative impacts of produced ZnO-NPs on the seedling stage of wheat. For this reason, the measurements of length of roots and shoots were realized in this study.…”

“…3,41,42 These changes observed in germination and root and shoot elongation known as the early developmental stages of the plant, may be due to amylase and dehydrogenase enzymes present in the germinating seeds, and these enzymes may be induced or reduced by ZnO-NPs. 39,43 SVI was determined depending on the germination percentage and root and shoot length. The findings demonstrated that a considerable increase in ZnO-NPs reduced the SVI of wheat in all the treatments (Fig.…”

“…An example is Oaikhena et al, 44 who reported that the SVI of wheat was enhanced with ZnO-NPs up to 50 mg L −1 and decreased with increasing concentration (100, 200 and 1000 mg L −1 ). Mishra et al 39 reported opposite effects of ZnO-NPs in that the SVI of finger millet seedlings was improved (9180.08) at a treatment of 500 mg L −1 of ZnO-NPs produced in a green manner using C. roseus plant extract, compared to control. Subbaiah et al 38 reported that the maximum SVI of maize was determined at a concentration of 1500 mg L −1 ZnO-NPs as 1923.2, as like Lv et al 46 The authors stated that treatment of ZnO-NPs significantly increased the SVI value of wheat at a concentration of 10 mg L −1 to 94% depending on the increasing ⊍-amylase activities.…”