EFFECT OF BERBERIS MEDIATED BIOSYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES ON GROWTH AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF PISUM SATIVUM L.

Abstract

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles using Berberry (Berberis lycium Royle) on growth and yield attributes of pea (Pisum sativum L.). Moreover, Taxonomy and distribution of genus Berberis from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan were also recorded. A total of 9 species of Berberis such as B. brandisiana, B. chitria, B. glaucocarpa, B. kashmirana, B. lycium, B. parkeriana, B. royleana, B. sterwartiana and B. ulicina were identified. These species were distributed from sub-tropical to sub-alpine zones of the state of AJK, Pakistan. It was found that B. lycium distributed in maximum studied sites and further selected for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Confirmation of silver nanoparticles synthesis was made on colour change when aqueous bark extract treated with AgNO3 which was further established with uv-visible spectroscopy. Structural and morphological characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was made with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray and x-ray diffraction analysis. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine the rate at which silver ions reduced to AgNPs. It was found that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were pre dominantly spherical, nano in size and crystalline in nature. The morphology of silver nanoparticles was affected by extract and AgNO3 concentrations, temperature and pH. Fourier transform infrared and quantitative screening of bio-molecules confirmed the involvement of alkaloids, flavonoids and reducing sugars as reducing and capping agents of silver nanoparticles. Then these biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were applied on P. sativum to find out their effect on growth and yield of pea. For this, a field experiment was conducted in split-split plot xvi fashion following RCBD. Three varieties of pea (Climax, PF-400 and Meteor) were treated with four concentrations of silver nanoparticles (0, 30, 60 and 90 ppm) by means of three modes of application (Seed treatment, foliar spray, seed treatment plus foliar spray). The results were found to be significant with respect to root length, shoot length, chlorophyll contents, seeds pod-1, pods plant-1, 100 seeds weight, biological yield, green pod yield, seed protein and carbohydrate contents. Among the concentrations of silver nanoparticles, 60 ppm produced maximum results applied via seed treatment plus foliar spray. Present findings suggest that silver nanoparticles enhanced the growth and yield of pea at a concentration of 60 ppm.