10.3 Role of Specific Nanoparticles on Plant Growth
Zinc is considered as an essential micronutrient required for growth of plants. Metal
oxides particularly ZnO have shown a huge potential as a nanofertilizer (Pradhan
et al. 2012; Prasad et al. 2012). Zinc oxide nanofertilizers (NfsOZn) promote seed
germination, bring increase in root length, chlorophyll concentration thereby inducing increase in biomass production. Treatment of NfsOZn at the rate of 25 ppm and
application of another Zn nanofertilizer such as NpsOZn increased biomass production and nitrogen assimilation in Phaseolus vulgaris. A significant improvement in
shoot length, root length, chlorophyll and protein content, biomass and enzyme
activity (phosphatase) has been noted in Vigna radiata, Cicer arietinum, Cucumis
sativus, Raphanus sativus, Brassica napus and cluster bean after treatment of ZnO
(Lin and Xing 2007; Mahajan et al. 2011; Zhao et al. 2013; Raliya and Tarafdar
2013).
Treatment with silica nanoparticles exhibited improvement in growth of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum) seedlings. Application of nanoparticles to seeds
improved its germination potential. Lactuca sativa seeds showed improvement in
germination potential after treatment with silica nanoparticles. The plants showed
increase in the ratio of shoot to root length. Treatment with selenium nanoparticles
(0.1 g/ha) increased crop yield, starch and protein content in the seeds of Zea mays.
Application of gold nanoparticles at concentration of 0.013% (w/w) noted an
increase shoot to root length ratio (Parveen et al. 2016). Seeds of Brassica juncea
treated with gold nanoparticles showed enhancement in germination rate and acceleration in growth of seedlings. These plants also showed an increase in number of
secondary branches, number of leaves without any change in leaf area. Treatment of
Arabidopsis thaliana seeds with gold nanoparticles at the concentration of 80 g/ml
increased seed germination rate and accelerated plant growth. Chlorophyll and sugar
content, number of pods, seed yield, and seed oil content showed increase in these
plants. The seeds of Cucumis sativus and Lactuca sativa treated with gold
nanoparticles showed positive effect on root elongation.
Treatment with silver nanoparticles improved uptake of nutrients from the soil,
nutrient uptake efficiency of plants. Antimicrobial and antioxidant nature are the
some of the properties of silver nanoparticles that contributed to their increased
efficiency as nanofertilizers. Slow and effective release of the nutrients by these
nanofertilizers helps in preventing nutrient losses. Treatment of seeds with silver
nanoparticles at the rate of 10 mg/l promoted seed germination in Triticum aestivum
(Mahakham et al. 2017). Treatment of silver nanoparticles at concentration 0.01 mg/l
increased the shoot and root biomass production. Treatment of Borago officinalis
with silver nanoparticles at concentrations of 20–60 ppm resulted in increase in seed
yield. The parameters such as leaf number, plant height, leaf length, plant dry noted
increase in these plants. Treatment with silver nanoparticles (25 and 50 ppm)
increases in shoots and root length in Brassica juncea. Treatment of seeds with
silver nanoparticles at the rate of 13.5 mg/l increased root length in Raphanus
sativus. Similar response of increase in root growth after addition of silver
nanoparticles (100 M) has been noted in Arabidopsis. This is because exposure of
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
235
Zinc is considered as an essential micronutrient required for growth of plants. Metal
oxides particularly ZnO have shown a huge potential as a nanofertilizer (Pradhan
et al. 2012; Prasad et al. 2012). Zinc oxide nanofertilizers (NfsOZn) promote seed
germination, bring increase in root length, chlorophyll concentration thereby inducing increase in biomass production. Treatment of NfsOZn at the rate of 25 ppm and
application of another Zn nanofertilizer such as NpsOZn increased biomass production and nitrogen assimilation in Phaseolus vulgaris. A significant improvement in
shoot length, root length, chlorophyll and protein content, biomass and enzyme
activity (phosphatase) has been noted in Vigna radiata, Cicer arietinum, Cucumis
sativus, Raphanus sativus, Brassica napus and cluster bean after treatment of ZnO
(Lin and Xing 2007; Mahajan et al. 2011; Zhao et al. 2013; Raliya and Tarafdar
2013).
Treatment with silica nanoparticles exhibited improvement in growth of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum) seedlings. Application of nanoparticles to seeds
improved its germination potential. Lactuca sativa seeds showed improvement in
germination potential after treatment with silica nanoparticles. The plants showed
increase in the ratio of shoot to root length. Treatment with selenium nanoparticles
(0.1 g/ha) increased crop yield, starch and protein content in the seeds of Zea mays.
Application of gold nanoparticles at concentration of 0.013% (w/w) noted an
increase shoot to root length ratio (Parveen et al. 2016). Seeds of Brassica juncea
treated with gold nanoparticles showed enhancement in germination rate and acceleration in growth of seedlings. These plants also showed an increase in number of
secondary branches, number of leaves without any change in leaf area. Treatment of
Arabidopsis thaliana seeds with gold nanoparticles at the concentration of 80 g/ml
increased seed germination rate and accelerated plant growth. Chlorophyll and sugar
content, number of pods, seed yield, and seed oil content showed increase in these
plants. The seeds of Cucumis sativus and Lactuca sativa treated with gold
nanoparticles showed positive effect on root elongation.
Treatment with silver nanoparticles improved uptake of nutrients from the soil,
nutrient uptake efficiency of plants. Antimicrobial and antioxidant nature are the
some of the properties of silver nanoparticles that contributed to their increased
efficiency as nanofertilizers. Slow and effective release of the nutrients by these
nanofertilizers helps in preventing nutrient losses. Treatment of seeds with silver
nanoparticles at the rate of 10 mg/l promoted seed germination in Triticum aestivum
(Mahakham et al. 2017). Treatment of silver nanoparticles at concentration 0.01 mg/l
increased the shoot and root biomass production. Treatment of Borago officinalis
with silver nanoparticles at concentrations of 20–60 ppm resulted in increase in seed
yield. The parameters such as leaf number, plant height, leaf length, plant dry noted
increase in these plants. Treatment with silver nanoparticles (25 and 50 ppm)
increases in shoots and root length in Brassica juncea. Treatment of seeds with
silver nanoparticles at the rate of 13.5 mg/l increased root length in Raphanus
sativus. Similar response of increase in root growth after addition of silver
nanoparticles (100 M) has been noted in Arabidopsis. This is because exposure of
10 Nanofertilizers and Their Applications
235