Effect of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles using Achyranthes aspera Roots on Seed Quality Parameters of Groundnut

Nanotechnology is considered as an emerging technology due to the possibility to advance well-established products and to create new products with totally new characteristics. Biosynthesised silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using A. aspera roots and standard Ag NPs were characterized by zetasizer, UV-Visible spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Efficacy of biosynthesised and standard Ag NPs was attributed on quality parameters of Groundnut seed. The average particle size of Ag NPs was 50.37 nm (Standard) and 23.21 nm (Biosynthesized). The characteristic absorbance peak was observed at 407.40 and 420.80 nm for standard and biosynthesized Ag NPs, respectively. SEM images revealed that, both the standard and biosynthesized Ag NPs were spherical in shape. Ag NPs at 150 ppm was found best in enhancing the seed quality parameters such as germination per cent, speed of germination, root length, shoot length, etc. The studies also revealed that, the effect of biosynthesized Ag NPs was on par with the standard Ag NPs in enhancing the groundnut seed quality. Hence, biosynthesized Ag NPs could be used as a new potential alternative for seed dormancy breaking in groundnut.