Nano-Organic Coatings Improve Early Vigor of Brassica napus L. Seeds in Water Deficit

Abstract

Low emergence and vigor of canola seeds are common problems encountered by canola growers. Seed coating is a good way to solve this problem. The objective of this study was to find the best combination of nano-organic to be used as a coating for seeds for strengthening the absorption of water and emergence seed of low vigor canola. The treatments in the first experiment included six levels of organic coatings: 20% vermicompost with 80% bentonite, 30% vermicompost with 70% bentonite, 40% vermicompost with 60% bentonite, 40% residues of canola with 60% bentonite, 30% residues of canola with 70% bentonite, and 20% resides of canola with 80% bentonite. The results indicated that 20% residues of canola and 20% vermicompost had the highest moisture under the saturation conditions and kept moisture for a longer time. Subsequently, the factors of the second experiment included three levels of water stress (100, 75, and 50% field capacity (FC)), three levels of seed coating (control, vermicompost, and canola residues), and three levels of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (0, 0.5, and 1 mM). The results showed that nano-organic coating improved emergence percentage and seedling traits while increasing superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities and decreasing electrolyte leakage. The highest ratios for emergence percentage (74.67), seedling vigor index (264.58), and leaf area (418) were obtained at the highest level of nano-titanium (1 mM). The highest rates of superoxide dismutase (53.44), peroxidase (30.68), catalase (5.35), chlorophyll content (51.05), and lowest electrolyte leakage (42.39) were observed in the highest level of nano-titanium (1 mM). Based on the results, we suggest the use of rapeseed residues with nano titanium oxide for rapeseed coating. The use of nanoparticles in current seed coatings is useful for reducing stresses in the germination and emergence stages.