Impact of biosynthesized CuO nanoparticles on seed germination and cyto-physiological responses of Trigonella foenum-graecum and Vigna radiata

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO center dot NPs) biosynthesized from plant extracts is emerging nanotechnology for medical and environmental applications. In the current study, the leaf extract of a medicinal plant, Abrus precatorius was used as a reducing agent for CuO center dot NPs biosynthesis and the formation of NPs was confirmed with various techniques. CuO center dot NPs (0, 10, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L) prepared were subjected to seed germination, seedling characteristics and cyto-physiological assay using Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) and Vigna radiata (green gram). Altogether, the CuO center dot NPs uptake and accumulation, chromosomal aberrations, and mitotic index in the roots of fenugreek and green gram seedlings were contingent on the concentration of CuO center dot NPs. A maximum of 80% and 86.6% mitotic index was recorded for fenugreek and green gram, respectively at 10 mg/L CuO center dot NPs, while it was 42.3% and 63.6% in 500 mg/L CuO center dot NPs. Protein expression of the CuO center dot NPs treated seedlings showed great variation. The findings imply that higher concentrations of CuO center dot NPs negatively impact the germination and cyto-physiology of fenugreek and green gram.

Automated summary

In this study, CuO·NPs were biosynthesized using plant extracts and their effects on fenugreek and green gram were evaluated. The results showed that higher concentrations of CuO·NPs negatively impacted the germination and cyto-physiology of these two plants.