EFFECT OF NANOSCALE ZINC OXIDE PARTICLES ON THE GERMINATION, GROWTH AND YIELD OF PEANUT

TLDR

Peanut is widely cultivated in India and globally, and zinc is known to influence its growth, making it a suitable model system. The study aimed to assess how nanoscale zinc oxide particles affect peanut growth and development. Seeds were treated with varying concentrations of nanoscale ZnO and bulk ZnSO₄, and their impacts on germination, vigor, growth, flowering, chlorophyll, yield, and root development were evaluated. Nanoscale ZnO at 1000 ppm enhanced germination, vigor, early flowering, chlorophyll, stem and root growth, and increased pod yield by 34 % versus bulk ZnSO₄, while field foliar applications at 15× lower dose raised yield by 29.5 % and 26.3 % in successive seasons; however, 2000 ppm proved inhibitory, underscoring the need for careful dosing, and this is the first report of such effects on peanut.

Abstract

An investigation was initiated to examine the effects of nanoscale zinc oxide particles on plant growth and development. In view of the widespread cultivation of peanut in India and in other parts of the globe and in view of the potential influence of zinc on its growth, this plant was chosen as the model system. Peanut seeds were separately treated with different concentrations of nanoscale zinc oxide (ZnO) and chelated bulk zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) suspensions (a common zinc supplement), respectively and the effect this treatment had on seed germination, seedling vigor, plant growth, flowering, chlorophyll content, pod yield and root growth were studied. Treatment of nanoscale ZnO (25 nm mean particle size) at 1000 ppm concentration promoted both seed germination and seedling vigor and in turn showed early establishment in soil manifested by early flowering and higher leaf chlorophyll content. These particles proved effective in increasing stem and root growth. Pod yield per plant was 34% higher compared to chelated bulk ZnSO4. Consequently, a field experiment was conducted during Rabi seasons of 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 with the foliar application of nanoscale ZnO particles at 15 times lower dose compared to the chelated ZnSO4 recommended and we recorded 29.5% and 26.3% higher pod yield, respectively, compared to chelated ZnSO4. The inhibitory effect with higher nanoparticle concentration (2000 ppm) reveals the need for judicious usage of these particles in such applications. This is the first report on the effect of nanoscale particles on peanut growth and yield.