2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding component of sustainable precision agriculture that promises to revolutionize food production. Recently, biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) have been explored to enhance seed vigor, germination, stand establishment and productivity. In this study, NPs were synthesized as nanopriming agents using the plant extracts. Nanoemulsions were prepared from turmeric and citrus seed oil using a low energy method based on spontaneous emulsification. Silver and gold nanoparticles were synthesized using onion extracts and characterized by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering techniques, and x-ray diffraction procedure. Results showed the successful synthesis of NPs capped with phytochemicals present in the onion extract. These phytochemical capped NPs were used in priming naturally aged onion seeds. Internalization studies conducted by instrumental neutron activation analysis, transmission electron microscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry provided evidence that the treated nanoparticles were internalized in onion seeds. The greenhouse studies were conducted to determine emergence test and different growth and yield parameters were assessed in the field at College Station, Uvalde and Weslaco, TX. Enhanced seed germination, emergence, growth and yield were observed in treated seeds compared to unprimed and conventional hydroprimed seeds. Seed treated with gold NPs (AuNPs) at a low dose (5.4 ppm) exhibited significantly higher germination, growth rates and yields in comparison with other treatments.