EFFECT OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES ON THE GROWTH AND ZnUPTAKE IN WHEAT (TRITICUMAESTIVUM L.) BY SEED PRIMING METHOD

摘要

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in crops as well as in humans is still an important health issue,especially in developing countries which is mainly due to inadequate dietary intake. Themajor reason behind this is the consumption of large amounts of Zn-deficient cerealsworldwide. This problem can be solved by the application of Zn to cereals known asbiofortification. Nanotechnology is one of the options to enhance the nutritional values ofcrops as some engineered nanoparticles (NPs) could be used as a fertilizer. Zinc can beused in the form of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs. The current study used the solution evaporationmethod to prepare ZnO NPs, characterized it by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) andscanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques and finally evaluated the effect of ZnONPs seed priming (0,25,50,75,100 ppm) on growth and Zn uptake in wheat(Triticumaestivum L.). XRD pattern confirms the formation of NPs and SEM imagedemonstrated the different shape and size of NPs such as bunch of irregular particles,smaller particles, round shape particles. Seed priming of ZnO NPs linearly increased thegrowth characteristics, photosynthesis and biomass of wheat. A significantly higherconcentration of Zn were found in the roots, shoot and grains of wheat with ZnO NPs thanthe control which confirmed that these particles could be used as a source of Zn aiming toreduce Zn deficiency in plants. However, field studies under different conditions andplants may further enhance the mechanistic understanding of the applicability of NPs inthis field.