Seed Quality Enhancement Through Analyte-Infused Electrospun Microcapsules in Maize

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanofibers were synthesized through electrospinning and infused gibberellic acid (GA₃) to form microcapsules and evaluated for efficacy on seed quality enhancement. The polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA at 15%), was used to synthesize nanofibers (281 nm) and, upon infusion of the analyte (GA₃ at 100 ppm), resulted in the formation of microcapsules, where characterization of morphology and analyte integration was done through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. GA₃-infused microcapsules were coated on fresh and accelerated-aged maize seeds, and germination potential tests were performed as per the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) seedling group number (A 1-2–3-2). The evaluation of seed enhancement of aged seeds showed the effect of precision coating (GA₃-infused microcapsules) in attaining superior seedling performance even after triggering the seed deterioration process through accelerated aging. The results revealed that the seed quality parameters like higher germination (80%), seedling length (23 cm), seedling dry weight (0.53 g), and vigor indices had been significantly enhanced due to GA₃-infused microcapsules coating in aged maize seeds.