Journal of Environmental Biology

Unlocking onion potential: Effect of sulphur and zinc oxide nanoparticles on seed germination and vigour under controlled environmental conditions

Y. Kumar¹, V. Tripathi¹*, D. Verma¹, V. Thakur¹, V. Dhaliwal¹, A. Bhardwaj² and A. Kumari²     

¹Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University Phagwara-144 411, India

²Department of Horticulture (Vegetable Science), Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour-813 210, India

Received: 11 April 2025                   Revised: 06 August 2025                   Accepted: 07 November 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : vishal.ambro@gmail.com; vishal.26759@lpu.co.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6956-1066

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of sulphur and zinc oxide nanoparticles seed priming on the growth and quality attributes of onion seedlings during the year 2023-24 at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab.

Methodology: The experiment comprised a total of six treatments, viz., Control, SNPs 20 ppm, SNPs 40 ppm, ZnO NPs 20 ppm, ZnO NPs 40 ppm and ZnO+ SNPs 20 ppm each. The experimental layout was completely randomized design with three replications. Seed priming involved soaking onion seeds for six hours in dark conditions at different concentrations of SNPs and ZnO NPs, dissolved in deionized water.

Results: The application of sulphur and zinc oxide nanoparticles showed a positively significant effect on various seedling-related attributes of onions. Seed priming with Zinc oxide particles at 40 ppm had showed a significant improvement in germination energy, shoot length, root length, seedling dry weight, vigour index I and vigour index II. However, the maximum germination percentage and germination rate index were recorded with the treatment combination of ZnO+SNPs 20 ppm.

Interpretation: Developing seed priming protocols using nanoparticles, especially ZnO nanoparticles may revolutionise the nursery industry. However, deeper research is required to understand how these nanoparticles interact with biomolecules and influence various traits in plants.

Key words:  Germination, Onion, Seed priming, Sulphur nanoparticles, Zinc

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