Effect of ZnO nano priming on germination and root length of soybean seeds (Glycine max L.)

Nano-priming is a pioneering method of treating seeds that improves seed germination, growth, and yield by imparting resilience to several plant stressors. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a nanomaterial with a specific surface area, high pore volume, low toxicity, and an extended lifetime, and used in nano-priming. This study aimed to determine the effect of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on seed germination and root length in determining the optimum concentration of ZnONPs for soya plants. The transmission of electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurements were used to characterize ZnO-NPs. Soya seeds were treated with different concentrations of ZnO-NPs (0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mgL-1) for 24 h. to determine the optimum concentration of ZnO-NPs for selected variants. After priming, the germination percentage and root length of each treatment were measured. The effect of ZnO nanoparticles (in soya plants was investigated by comparing them with seeds germinated in a control (hydropriming) medium. The investigation demonstrated that the high concentration of ZnO NPs had an adverse impact on both seed germination and root length. Based on this, it was suggested that studies should be conducted including different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles, which are thought to have a complex structure, to understand the mechanism of action, to find the appropriate concentration for soybean plants, and to increase seed germination. © 2025 Pamukkale University. All rights reserved.