Zinc oxide nanoparticle morphology modify germination and early growth of bell pepper seedlings

Abstract Nanotechnology has the potential to improve several processes in agriculture, including seed germination, growth, and crop productivity. In this work, the effect of priming RZ F1 (35-71) pepper seeds with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with different morphology: spherical and hexagonal, and at different doses, 50 and 100 mg L-1, was studied. The study was carried out in two phases. The in vitro phase, where early growth variables were evaluated: germination percentage, radicle, plumule and hypocotyl length; and the greenhouse phase, where plant height, stem diameter, dry weight, leaf area, total chlorophyll, and phenols were evaluated, 45 days after planting. Seed priming with ZnO NPs showed a positive influence, with spherical morphology at a 100 mg L-1 dose giving the best results for early growth parameters, as well as for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and total chlorophyll. These results suggest that ZnO NPs can be considered a seed conditioner to improve germination, early growth parameters and chlorophyll content.