Green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles using Ganoderma lucidum: Characterization and In Vitro Nanofertilizer effects

Nanomaterials are one of the most popular topics of technological applications in the last decade, thus it is crucial to synthesize these materials with eco-friendly methods. In the present study, ZnO nanoparticle has been biologically synthesized by using Ganoderma lucidum extract with various concentrations, and its structural, optical, morphological, and elemental characteristics are determined with XRD, UV–visible spectrometer, and SEM-EDS analyses. As well, nanofertilizer properties on Lepidium sativum (garden cress) have been investigated. It is found that structural properties of ZnO NPs have pure wurtzite phase with p63 mc space group. Optical bandgaps of nanoparticles which have not differed with the increasing extract concentration is about 3.24 eV. In SEM-EDS analysis, three different hexagonal shapes (discs, rods, and pyramidals) of nanoparticles have been observed with stoichiometric Zn and O ratios. The radicle, plumule lengths, fresh and, dry weights contents of L. sativum have been increased at rates of 45 %, 41 %, 16 %, 33 % at 250 ppm of green synthesized ZnO NPs with 25 ml extract concentration, respectively. This study is the first report on the utilization of green synthesized ZnO with G. lucidum extracts as a nano-nutrient. • Effects of extract concentration on ZnO NPs were investigated. • 25 ml Ganoderma lucidum extract concentration presents the highest growth parameters on Lepidium sativum. • The production mechanism of green synthesized ZnO NPs is discussed, as well as its future potential as nano fertilizer. • ZnO NPs were an almost uniformed and hexagonal disk, rod, and pyramidal shape with different extract concentrations.