Special Action of Cobalt and Boron Nanoparticles on Bacterial Luminescence and Morphometric Indicators of Spring Sown Cereal and Millet Sprouts

Abstract

The data on changes in bacterial luminescence and morphometric indicators of spring durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), spring barley (Hordeum sativum J.) and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) after pre-sowing seed treatment with boron and cobalt nanoparticles in a polymer matrix are presented. The toxicity results of B and Co NPs on the bacterial luminescence test system for Escherichia coli K12 TG1 show that the semi-lethal (causing 50% of bacteria death) concentration of B NPs is 2.4 × 10^–2 mg/mL and Co NPs is 3 × 10^–3 mg/mL, whereas the selected concentration range for pre-sowing seed treatment is from 10^–9 to 10^–7%. The germination energy increases by 10.9‒25%, and seed germination by 2.9‒10.7%. Studying the morphometric parameters of shoots after NP treatment showed that cobalt has a more intensive effect on the growth of the superterrestrial parts of plants, and boron has better stimulation of the growth of the root system. In the case of B NPs, the sprout length increases by 4.8‒31.3% the root-system length increases by 14.9‒32%, the dry mass of the sprout by 14.3‒26.1%, and the dry mass of the root system by 17.9‒29% in comparison with the control. The pre-sowing seed treatment of cereal crops with Co NPs also shows an increase in shoot length by 29‒49%, root-system length by 12‒17%, sprout mass by 18‒36%, and root mass by 10‒20% relative to the control samples. A concentration of boron NPs of 10^–8% and cobalt NPs of 10^‒9% can be recommended for further production tests in the field.