Zinc nanocoated seeds: an alternative to boost soybean seed germination and seedling development

Author(s)

Montanha, Gabriel Sgarbiero ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Eduardo Santos ^[1] ; Rodrigues Marques, Joao Paulo ^[1] ; de Almeida, Eduardo ^[1] ; Colzato, Marina ^[2] ; Pereira de Carvalho, Hudson Wallace ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr CENA, Lab Nucl Instrumentat LIN, BR-13416000 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr ESALQ, Soil Sci Dept, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SN APPLIED SCIENCES; v. 2, n. 5 MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In this study, we characterized Zn seed coats adhered on soybean seed surface {[}Glycine max (L.) Merrill] and then investigated the effects of such coatings on germination and finally monitored the transference of Zn from the coatings to the seedlings. For that, seeds were coated with ZnSO4, 40 nm ZnO, and 5 mu m ZnO at 4 mg of Zn per kg of seed. The shape and homogeneity of Zn deposits on the seed surface depended on the type of Zn source. X-ray spectroscopy unraveled that before the germination, Zn neither crossed the seed coat nor was biotransformed. Regardless of the particle size, ZnO-based treatments increased germination ratio, seedlings root, and shoot development, whereas ZnSO4 suppressed them. After sowing, most of Zn on the seed coat was transferred to soil, while less than 13 wt% was assimilated by the seedling 14 days after sowing. Either this minor fraction of Zn was taken up during the imbibition process or absorbed by during seedling growth. Zinc oxide-based treatments represent a viable alternative to Zn supply in order to boost soybean germination and seedling development. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/05942-0 - Shedding light on the metabolism of nanomaterials absorbed by plants with X-ray and vibrational spectroscopy
• Grantee: Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/19121-8 - Multi-User Equipment approved in grant 2015/05942-0: micro X-Ray Fluorescence system
• Grantee: Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program