Effects of Alternanthera sessilis {L.} R.Br.ex DC. in the presence/absence of silver nanoparticle {Ag-NPs} on the performance of jowar {Sorghum vulgare}
Aurosha Fayaz, Gafoor Unnisa, Maleeha Taqdees Malik, S. Maqbool Ahmed and Mohammad Faizan
Botany Section, School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad-500032 (India) Correspondence: maqboolbotany@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Weeds have not been given enough attention, and their utility in agriculture has not been widely considered. Nanoparticles {NPs} are tiny particles having size ranges from 1-100 nm. In plants, NPs exerted negative as well as positive effects, depending upon the type and concentration of NPs as well as plant species. The objective of the current study was to observe the effect of Alternanthera sessilis and silver nanoparticles {Ag-NPs} alone as well as in combination on the performance of jowar {Sorghum vulgare}. A laboratory experiment was performed in petri plates with 3 replicates {20 seeds in each petri plates} of each treatment in the Lab of Botany Section, School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. A. sessilis {50%} and Ag-NPs {50 ppm} application was given to the petri plates containing jowar seeds. After 3rd day of germination, seedling growth {shoots and root length}, germination index, and vigor index of jowar seeds were calculated. The results showed the positive effects of A. sessilis and significantly increased all the aforesaid parameters, however, Ag-NPs exerted negative effects. One very promising result came when A. sessilis applied in the presence of Ag-NPs; it slightly reduced the toxicity caused by Ag-NPs in jowar seeds. In conclusion, we can say that A. sessilis used to mitigate the toxicity caused by Ag-NPs