Growth Responses and Regression Analysis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The use of metal nanomaterials to promote plant growth and inhibit plant pathogenic microorganisms is gaining interest. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were evaluated for effects on growth and productivity of indica rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). The rice plant was exposed to ZnONPs with different concentrations i. e. 0, 200, 600 and 800 mg/l. The plant height, weight and the number of panicles per clump were investigated. The result showed that 200 mg/l of ZnONPs induced the highest enhancement of plant height, weight and the number of panicles per clump with a significant difference compared to other groups. The mathematical model of the height, weight and the number of panicles per clump was analyzed by linear regression, and the determination coefficient (R²) of the linear regression model was 0.86, 0.84 and 0.52, respectively. This linear regression model could be potentially extended to the indica rice plant cultivation process in practical applications to predict the rice plant growth and productivity in commercial cultivation.