Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper


Vol.31 (4), 2025

Page Number: 1449-1454

ZINC AND POTASSIUM NANOPARTICLES AS A SEED PRIMING AGENT TO MITIGATE DROUGHT STRESS IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

Priyamvada Mishra, Neelesh Kapoor, Ravindra Kumar, Adesh Singh, Budhayash Gautam, Prafulla Kumar, Rekha Dixit5, Vaishali and R.S. Sengar

Abstract

This study examined how well wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety (DBW 71) responded to drought stress using a unique zinc and potassium nanoparticles (Zn-K NP) seed priming approach. Traditional nutripriming (ZnSO4 + K2SO4) and hydropriming controls were greatly surpassed by nano-priming with zinc and potassium nanoparticles at 50 ppm concentration under both well-watered and drought-stressed (40– 45% field capacity) conditions. Zinc and potassium nanoparticles priming significantly improved germination percentage, coleoptile length, fresh weight of seedlings, dry weight of seedlings and seedling vigor index. According to the results the ability of nano-primed seeds to induce drought tolerance at crucial early germinative stage is highlighted by the fact that they demonstrated improved resilience under drought stress, sustaining noticeably higher growth parameters than other treatments. According to the study’s findings, (Zn-KNP) seed priming is a very successful and environmentally friendly agrotechnology that enhances establishment and early growth while protecting wheat output from growing water scarcity.