Silver Nanoparticles and Its Effect on Seed Germination and Physiology in Brassica juncea L. (Indian Mustard) Plant

The rapid production and application of nanoparticles (NPs) have resulted in substantial release of nanosized particles into the environment. Nanoparticles (NPs) is being used in several products including food and agriculture sectors, is gaining importance in recent years. The antimicrobial properties of silver have made it as major ingredient in several agricultural products. Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) is one of the most widely used NP in biological research due to their antimicrobial properties and do not produce any adverse effects on plants. In the present study we have studied the impact of three concentration (100, 500, and 1000 mg/L) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and two concentration (100 and 500 mg/L) of silver nitrate (AgNO₃, as a bulk form of silver) in Brassica juncea var. Varuna (mustard plant), to assess the toxicity of these particles. We have found that, AgNPs induced slight increase in root/shoot length and this effect was correlated with increase in chlorophyll and protein content at all the concentration as compared to control (without AgNPs). We also examined the effect of silver nitrate (AgNO₃), which showed that at all the tested concentration, inhibition was observed in root-shoot length, chlorophyll and protein content.