Biosynthesis and Characterization of Silver and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Seed Quality Growth and Seed Yield of Chilli Capsicum annuum L

Abstract

The investigation on impact of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles on chilli seed newlinequality, plant growth and seed yield was carried out at the Department of Seed Science newlineand Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during 2019-2021 for newlineenhancement of seed quality in chilli. newlineThe microbial extracts of B. subtilis, AUDP209 and AUDT636 showing newlinesignificant effect on seed quality was selected after screening from eight strains of newlineBacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and actinobacteria. The silver and zinc oxide NPs were newlinebiosynthesized and characterized through UV-Vis, PSA, AFM, SEM, EDAX, XRD and newlineFTIR. The B. subtilis, AUDP209 and AUDT636 biosynthesized AgNPs showed peak at newline425, 420 and 435 nm and average size was found to be 58.0, 51.7, and 76.7 nm, newlinewhereas for ZnONPs absorption peak was observed at 330, 337 and 333 nm with newlineaverage size of 70, 49 and 83 nm, respectively. SEM revealed that all AgNPs were newlinespherical in shape, whereas, ZnONPs were rod to irregular in shape and EDAX newlineconfirmed presence of silver and ZnO ions in biosynthesized sample. AFM confirmed a newlinerough and mono-dispersed particles and XRD proved crystalline nature of newlinenanoparticles. newlineSeeds of nano primed with AgNPs at 300 ppm biosynthesized through newlineB. subtilis, AUDP209 and AUDT636 showed significant effect on seed vigour and seed newlinegermination (78.67, 80.00 and 78.67 %, respectively), whereas ZnONPs at 100 ppm newlineshowed enhanced seed germination (76.00, 77.67 and 76.00 %, respectively), compared newlineto hydropriming (67%) and control (65%). Higher peak value of germination, speed of newlinegermination along with increased root and shoot length and seedling dry weight was newlineobserved at same concentrations of Ag and ZnONPs. However, the lowest EC and seed newlineinfection was observed from the same treatments. newlineIn greenhouse experiment, significant effect on seedling emergence, plant newlinegrowth and seed yield parameters was recorded in seeds treated with AgNPs and newlineZnONPs. Nanopriming of seeds with AgNPs at 300 ppm biosynthesized through B. newlinesubtilis, AUDP209 and AUDT636 showed sign