Effect of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth performance and chlorophyll content of cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> L. Walp.)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been studied for their potential effects on various plant varieties including cowpea. This study investigates the impact of different concentrations of green-synthesized AgNPs on the growth parameters such as leaf length, leaf area, shoot height, and chlorophyll accumulation of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. In this study, seeds of cowpea variety 10K-843-2 were planted in soil pre-treated with bio synthesized AgNPs at 25%, 50%, and 75% while water served as control. Result showed that plants exposed to 75% concentration of AgNPs gave the highest (p≤0.05) leaf width, shoot height, leaf length and leaf area, numbers of pods and relative water content which was statistically different from other plants treated with 25%, and 50% AgNPs respectively at (p≤0.05). The highest chlorophyll accumulation was observed in cowpea exposed to 50% green- synthesized AgNPs. The lowest result for all the parameters was however observed in the plants treated with no AgNPs (i.e. control 0%). These findings provide insight into the effects of AgNPs on cowpea morphology and its photosynthetic pigments accumulation.