Promising Use of Alpha-Spin(r) Nano Particles Bombardment for Selection of Useful Variations in Moringa Oleifera Seedlings in Nigeria

Abstract

The germination and some morphological development parameters such as number of branches, plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and number of leaflets was observed for Moringa oleifera treated with alpha spin nanoparticles in Lafia, Nigeria. The treated seeds were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) after four levels of treatments at 10minutes, 20minutes, 30minutes, 40minutes and 60 minutes. These along with control treatments were replicated three times in the field and allowed to undergo normal cultural practices as at when due. Data was collected for germination, plant height, number of branches, total number of leaves, stem girth and number of leaflets. The data was analyzed statistically using GENSTAT statistical software and treatment means were separated by the least significant differences (LSD) at 5% probability from the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The effect of the treatments on germination at the level of 10 minutes and 15 minutes exposure was not significantly different from the control but there was observed difference when the exposure increased to 30 minutes and 1 hour. Similarly the other growth parameters responded to the treatments by showing a significant difference in the treatments at 30 minutes and 1 hour exposure to the treatments. These results are discussed with a view to obtaining genetically diverse and useful variants.