Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: An Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Improve Early Germination of Zea mays

Abstract The application of nanoparticles (NPs) in the field of agriculture represents a novel, efficient and low-cost alternative to replace supplies of conventional agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (NpsZnO) have been shown to have a positive effect on the development of various vegetable species. For this study, NpsZnO were synthesized by the sol-gel method, and subsequently, its absorption in Zea mays seeds and its effect on germination were evaluated. The results showed mesoporous nanoparticles were obtained. In addition, the seeds exposed to the nanoparticles showed a significantly higher concentration of zinc compared to the seeds control, showing values of up to 275 ppm compared to the control which contained an average of 75 ppm. An increase in germination was also observed, obtaining the best effect in the concentration of 16 µg/mL. The growth-promoting effect of the applied NPs on seed germination could be due to the activity of zinc as a precursor in the synthesis of phytoregulators. However, there is a lack of studies in research such as this one to confirm this inference.