Seed Health Status during Storage in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under the Influence of Chemically Synthesized Nanoparticles

Abstract

Seed treatment with fungicide is a common practice for controlling seed-borne diseases which cause pollution to environment; while nanoparticles may be the alternative agent to treat the seed without any hazard to mammal and beneficial microbes. Thus, the effect of nanoparticles (Zinc oxide and Almonium oxide) at different dilutions on the seed health status of chilli seed was evaluated. Three concentations of both zinc and almonium nanoparticls as 25µg, 50 µg, and 75 µg including a control (untreated) were tested. Seeds were kept in the different concentrations of nanoparticles for eight hours, air-dried and then sun dried to 12-13% moisture content. The treated seeds were preserved in polythene bags. Health was assayed following blotter test for detection of fungal infection at different intervals of storage period (tri-monthly) up to 12 months. The treatment T₃ (ZnO @ 0.75µg/ltr) showed lowest fungal seed infection (Fusarium mondiforme) as compared to control (untreated) which showed highest seed infection percentage at every interval of storage period. With the increase of storage period seed infection with Fusarium mondiforme increases gradually. The lowest seed-borne infection was observed in seeds treated with Zinc oxide nanoparticls followed by concentrations of almonium oxide nanoparticles. Hence it was seen that zinc oxide nanoparticles at higher concentrations has positive effects and aluminium oxide showed negative effects on seed health status in chilli.