Enhancement of the duckweed biomass and starch production utilizing biogenic MnO and ZnO microparticles.

The effects of biologically synthesized MnO and ZnO microparticles (MPs), were evaluated on the growth of . Both MnO and ZnO MPs promoted the growth of L. at low concentrations of 1-8 mg/L. In contrast, 1000 mg/L MnO and ZnO MPs reduced the growth of L. . It was also found that the starch content of L. and was enhanced upon growing in 1 mg/L of MnO MPs when compared to no MnO MPs. These effects were suggested to be due in part to the fact that biogenic MPs harbored small but significant amounts of inorganic phosphorus. Our findings indicate that biologically synthesized MnO and ZnO MPs can act as novel plant growth regulators to enhance the production of useful duckweed biomass with high starch content.