Effect of Nano Particles on Seed Longevity of Hybrid Maize (Hema) Under Ambient Condition

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was undertaken to estimate the effect of iron, zinc, thiram and sweet flag rhizome powder nano particles on seed longevity of hybrid maize, in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, UAS, Raichur, Karnataka. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments., T₁: Control, T2: Only polymer, T3: Nano Fe (250 ppm), T₁: Nano Zn (500 ppm), Ts: Nano thiram (500 ppm), T: Nano SFRP (1000 ppm), T7: Nano Fe + Nano Zn (T3+T₄), T: Nano thiram +Nano SFRP (T5+T), T,: Nano Fe + Nano Zn +Nano thiram (T3+T4+T5), T10: Nano Fe + Nano Zn +Nano SFRP (T3+T4+T), T11: Nano Fe + Nano Zn + Nano thiram +Nano SFRP (T3+T4+T3+T) and T12: Nano Fe + Nano Zn + Nano thiram +Nano SFRP (50% of T11). Among the different treatments imposed, seed polymer coating with nano Fe @ 250 ppm, nano Zn @ 500 ppm and nanothiram @ 500 ppm recorded significantly higher seed germination (88.25, 88.25 and 88.00%), seedling vigour index (3464, 3452 and 3423), dehydrogenase activity (0.620,0.631 and 0.619 OD values) and alpha amylase activity (16.50, 16.90 and 16.30 mm), along with lower electrical conductivity (1.086, 1.007 and 1.091 dSm³) respectively, as compared to control (84.00%, 2974,0.487 OD values, 13.55mm and 1.262 dSm³, respectively, for the above parameters) at the end of storage period. However, the combination of different nano particles showed negative effect on all seed quality parameters during the storage period. From the present findings it can be concluded that the individual nano particles ie., either Fe @ 250 ppm or Zn @ 500 ppm or nanothiram @ 500 ppm can be used for improving the seed longevity of hybrid maize (Hema).