Open Access

ARTICLE

Impact of ZnSO and ZnO Nanoparticles on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Lettuce

by Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza¹, Rebeca Betancourt-Galindo², Nazario Francisco-Francisco^3,*

1 Departamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, 25315, México
2 Departamento de Materiales Avanzados, Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Saltillo, 25294, México
3 Departamento de Agricultura Sustentable y Protegida, Universidad Tecnológica de Tehuacán, Tehuacán, 75859, México

* Corresponding Author: Nazario Francisco-Francisco. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Molecular and Cellular Communication Between Plants and Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms and Their Nanoparticles for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2023, 92(6), 1831-1840. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2023.028085

Received 29 November 2022; Accepted 11 January 2023; Issue published 11 April 2023

Abstract

Micronutrient nanoparticles (NPs) are currently an option for chemical fertilization and biostimulation in crops. However, there is little information on the phytotoxic or biostimulatory effects of NPs at low concentrations of some elements, such as Zn. In this study, the effect of low concentrations of Zn oxide (ZnO) NPs on germination, growth variables, and nutritional attributes of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was evaluated in comparison to Zn sulfate. Romaine lettuce seeds were treated with ZnSO₄^-- × 7H₂O and ZnO NPs at Zn molar concentrations of 1 × 10⁻³, 5 × 10⁻³, 1 × 10⁻⁴, 5 × 10⁻⁴, 1 × 10⁻⁵, 5 × 10⁻⁵, 1 × 10⁻⁶, and 5 × 10⁻⁶. The seeds treated with ZnSO₄⁻ at 5 × 10⁻⁶ registered the highest radicle length, 73% more than the control treatment. The seeds treated with ZnSO₄⁻ at 5 × 10⁻³ registered the lowest values, with 50% less than the control treatment. ZnO NPs at 5 × 10⁻⁶ significantly increased content of chlorophyll A and B and total phenolics. These results indicate the possible existence of a mechanism related to the intrinsic nanoparticle properties, especially at low concentrations.

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Keywords

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