Figures (6)  Tables (1)

    • Figure 1. 

      Representative SEM (a) and TEM (b) images showing morphology of Zn-bionanocrystals, consistent with previously reported structural characteristics[5].

    • Figure 2. 

      Representative images of wheat seedlings (12th DAG) under different treatments showing phenotypic variations after priming.

    • Figure 3. 

      Change in wheat seedlings at regular intervals after priming with Zn-bionanocrystals. (a) Shoot length, (b) root length, (c) fresh weight, and (d) dry weight. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3). Error bars indicate standard deviation. Overall treatment effects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).

    • Figure 4. 

      Change in (a) starch content, and (b) soluble protein in wheat seedlings at regular intervals after priming with Zn-bionanocrystals. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3). Error bars indicate standard deviation. Overall treatment effects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).

    • Figure 5. 

      Change in (a) chlorophyll, and (b) carotenoid content in wheat seedlings after priming with Zn-bionanocrystals. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3). Error bars indicate standard deviation. Overall treatment effects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).

    • Figure 6. 

      Change in (a) α-amylase, and (b) protease activity in wheat seedlings at regular intervals after priming with Zn-bionanocrystals. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3). Error bars indicate standard deviation. Overall treatment effects were evaluated using one-way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).

    • Treatment ShL (cm)* RL (cm)* SL (cm)* FW (/SL)* DW (/SL)* GF (%)** SVI-I** SVI-II** MLIT** COV** GI** VI**
      T1 7.91 ± 0.12 15.29 ± 0.25 23.20 ± 0.59 0.187 ± 0.005 0.027 ± 0.001 99.8 ± 0.5 2,315.36 ± 36.56 2.65 ± 0.11 3.25 30.77 39.50 916.40
      T3 8.96 ± 0.09 16.46 ± 0.28 25.41 ± 0.62 0.203 ± 0.007 0.029 ± 0.002 99.9 ± 0.8 2,538.86 ± 38.56 2.92 ± 0.08 3.02 33.11 42.80 1,087.72
      T5 9.86 ± 0.11 17.54 ± 0.24 27.41 ± 0.58 0.229 ± 0.006 0.034 ± 0.002 99.8 ± 0.6 2,735.32 ± 37.59 3.36 ± 0.09 2.86 34.97 48.50 1,329.29
      T6 11.23 ± 0.08 18.38 ± 0.23 29.61 ± 0.53 0.247 ± 0.007 0.037 ± 0.001 99.9 ± 0.8 2,957.64 ± 41.26 3.69 ± 0.08 2.71 36.90 51.30 1,518.79
      T7 12.40 ± 0.08 19.78 ± 0.24 32.18 ± 0.57 0.277 ± 0.004 0.041 ± 0.002 100 ± 0.0 3,218.12 ± 39.65 4.08 ± 0.07 2.95 33.90 55.60 1,789.21
      T8 11.72 ± 0.10 18.98 ± 0.26 30.70 ± 0.59 0.264 ± 0.005 0.039 ± 0.001 100 ± 0.0 3,070.64 ± 37.98 3.86 ± 0.09 2.91 34.36 54.20 1,663.94
      T9 11.42 ± 0.08 18.64 ± 0.25 30.06 ± 0.55 0.254 ± 0.006 0.037 ± 0.002 99.8 ± 0.8 2,999.99 ± 42.65 3.69 ± 0.09 2.84 35.21 53.50 1,608.21
      ShL: shoot length; RL: root length; SL: seedling length; FW: fresh weight; DW: dry weight; GF: germination frequency; SVI: seed vigour index(SVI-I and II); MLIT: mean length of incubation time; COV: coefficient of velocity; GI: germination index; VI: vitality index; T1: control (hydropriming); T2: 100 ppm bulk chitosan; T3: 100 ppm bulk zinc sulphate heptahydrate; T4: 100 ppm bulk chitosan + 100 ppm bulk zinc sulphate heptahydrate; T5: 200 ppm Zn-bionanocrystals; T6: 400 ppm Zn-bionanocrystals; T7: 600 ppm Zn-bionanocrystals; T8: 800 ppm Zn-bionanocrystals; T9: 1,000 ppm Zn-bionanocrystals. (* at 15th DAG, ** at regular interval of 24 h for 10 d).

      Table 1. 

      Effect of Zn- bionanocrystals on germination-relatedparameters of wheat seedlings.