Green synthesized silver nanoparticles mediated regulation on hydrolytic enzymes and ROS homeostasis promote growth of three pulses (Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., and Vigna radiata L.)

• Published in: Energy, ecology and environment (Online) ecology and environment (Online), 2023-12, Vol.8 (6), p.537-555
• Main Authors: Koley, Rajesh, Mondal, Arghadip, Mondal, Naba Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agriculture; Chlorophyll; Cicer arietinum; Crops; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Energy; Environment; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Fourier transforms; Germination; Homeostasis; Microscopy; Morphology; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Original Article; Physiology; Pisum sativum; Plant extracts; Plant growth; Productivity; Proteins; Seed germination; Seed treatments; Seedlings; Seeds; Silver; Silver nitrate; Synthesis; Vigna radiata
• ISSN: 2363-7692; 2363-8338
• DOI: 10.1007/s40974-023-00293-6

Pre-sowing seed treatment with nanoparticles has a promising role towards the improvement of seed germination and seedling growth. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) through green route using aqueous extract of Parthenium hysterophorus L. roots. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical instruments such as UV–Vis spectrophotometer, TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. Further, the impacts of AgNPs, AgNO 3, and plant extract on germination, seedling growth, activity of hydrolytic enzymes, and ROS generation of three pulses ( Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., and Vigna radiata L.) were investigated. Characterization of nanoparticles revealed that the green synthesized AgNPs were mostly spherical with an average size of 11–20 nm and crystallinity was 71.3%. The growth experiment revealed that seed germination and seedling growth were increased under AgNPs (10 and 50 mg/L) and AgNO 3 (10 mg/L) treatments as compared to control for three tested pulses. Results also demonstrated the increased hydrolytic enzyme activities during early seedling establishment of three pulses under nanoparticle treatments. Meanwhile, dose dependent increase in ROS production was recorded under both AgNPs and AgNO 3 treatments and it was always higher in AgNO 3 as compared to AgNPs treatments. However, the growth inhibition at higher concentrations of both AgNPs and AgNO 3 treatments suggested that the ROS generation at an optimum level might play an important role towards the enhancement of seed germination. Therefore, AgNPs mediated alteration of the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and generation of ROS might regulate early seedling establishment. Graphical abstract