Biofortification of Wheat Using Biologically Synthesized Zinc Nanoparticles

The research was carried out at the Green Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, with a specific emphasis on the biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles using Pseudomonas and actinobacteria. The zinc nanoparticles were biosynthesized and characterized through UV-Visible spectroscopy, Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). After biosynthesis and characterization of the nanoparticles (NPs), a pot experiment was conducted under controlled condition to enrich the zinc content in wheat using biosynthesized zinc nanoparticles.In wheatseed priming @ 500 ppm and foliar spraying @ 500 ppm at panicle initiation stage with zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized through actinobacteria(T12) recorded significantly higher number of grains per spike (46.73), 1000 grain weight (42.26 g), grain yield (3.95g plant-1), straw yield (5.97g plant-1), zinc content (grain 55.87μg g-1 and straw 66.27μg g-1) and zincuptake (grain 220.69 μg plant-1, straw 395.63μg plant-1 and total zinc uptake 616.32μg plant-1), which was on par with seed priming @ 500 ppm and foliar spraying @ 500 ppm at panicle initiation stage with zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized through Pseudomonas (T5).