Effect of Hydroxyapatite nanorod on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) plant growth and its possible use as nano-fertilizer

Engineered nano particles may have a variety of effects on plant systems which is not well studied as yet. We have studied for the first time the beneficial effect of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanorod on seed germination and growth of chickpea plant. HAP nanorods have been synthesized by sol gel technique and then characterized. Chickpea plants have been allowed to germinate and grow in sterile sand containing HAP nanorod and this resulted in enhancement of both germination rate and plant growth radically. The maximum increase was observed in the presence of 1 mg/ml Hap-nanorod where the plant growth rate was more than two times over the control. Electron microscopic study provided the evidence of accumulation of nanoparticles within the plant tissue. These nanoparticles have great potential to be used as nano-fertilizer.