Eco-friendly nanopriming: Zinc oxide nanoparticles derived from banana peel extract for improved germination of chili seeds

ABSTRACT: Seed germination is an essential process in agriculture that is vital for the successful growth and development of plants, and it plays a vital role in determining the quality of crops. Nanopriming is a seed treatment method that use nanoparticles characterised by their small dimensions, broad surface area, and increased reactivity to improve the process of germination. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have great stability and thus can be stored longer than other materials, as they do not aggregate. This study aimed to synthesize ZnO-NPs using banana peel extract and evaluate its effects on pepper seeds. ZnO-NPs with 59.41 nm size were successfully synthesized from banana peel extracts. The XRD patterns indicated that the ZnO-NPs have nanocrystalline structures, providing evidence that the synthesis, capping, and stabilization of the nanoparticles were attributed to the banana peel extract. Then, the chili seeds were primed with different concentrations of ZnO-NPs (10, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 600 ppm). The results indicated the highest germination percentage (97%) and rate (12.26), seedling length (6.35 cm), seedling fresh weight (1.86 g), and seed vigor (616.25) when treated with 50 ppm ZnO-NPs. Meanwhile, as the concentration of ZnO-NPs increased above 50 ppm, a toxic effect was observed with adverse effects on seed germination and seedling growth.