Search Results (79)

Drought stress is one of the main factors limiting seed germination and seedling establishment in field crops such as jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Nanopriming, a seed improvement technique using nanoparticle suspensions, has emerged as a sustainable approach to improving water use efficiency during the early stages of development. This study evaluated the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO, 100 mg·L⁻¹), silicon dioxide (SiO₂, 10 mg·L⁻¹), and their combination (ZnO + SiO₂), stabilized with chitosan, on the germination yield and drought tolerance of jalapeño seeds under mannitol-induced water stress (0%, 15%, and 30%). Compared to the hydroprimed control (T1), nanoparticle treatments consistently improved seed yield. Priming with ZnO (T2) increased the germination percentage by up to 25%, priming with SiO₂ (T3) improved the germination rate by 34%, and the combined treatment (T4: ZnO + SiO₂) improved the fresh weight of the seedlings by 40%. Proline accumulation increased 7.5 times, antioxidant capacity (DPPH) increased 6.5 times, and total phenol content increased 4.8 times in the combined treatment. Flavonoid levels also showed notable increases, suggesting enhanced antioxidant defense. These results clearly demonstrate the superior efficacy of nanoparticle pretreatment compared to conventional hydraulic pretreatment, especially under drought conditions. Multivariate analysis further highlighted the synergistic role of ZnO and SiO₂ in improving osmolite accumulation, antioxidant activity, and water use efficiency. Nanopriming with ZnO and SiO₂ offers a promising, economical, and scalable strategy to improve germination, early growth, and drought resistance in jalapeño pepper cultivation under semi-arid conditions. Full article

The control of bacterial plant diseases is very challenging and often relies on the application of copper compounds, although the frequent emergence and spread of resistant bacterial strains compromise their efficacy. Additionally, copper-based compounds raise environmental and human health concerns, leading to their inclusion in the European Commission’s list of candidates for substitution. As a promising and sustainable alternative, we investigated the efficacy of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in protecting tomato plants against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), the causal agent of bacterial speck disease. ZnO-NPs exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity (EC₉₅ = 17.0 ± 1.1 ppm) against the pathogen. Furthermore, when applied to the foliage of tomato plants at 100 ppm before or following Pst inoculation, they induced significant reductions in symptom severity and bacterial growth in planta, which were comparable to those shown by plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl, a plant defense inducer. Gene expression assessed by qPCR revealed the involvement of the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway in tomato plants treated with ZnO-NPs before inoculation, suggesting that the observed protection could be due to a priming effect. Finally, infected plants showed oxidative stress, with higher H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. ZnO-NPs reverted this effect, containing the content of the above molecules, and stimulated the production of metabolites involved in dealing with oxidative perturbations (carotenoids and phenols), while unaffecting flavonoids and anthocyanins. Full article

Nutrient seed priming is a promising technique for enhancing nutrient uptake and improving crop growth, especially under water stress conditions. This study investigated the effects of various priming treatments on water stress tolerance and the uptake of essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc, in Capsicum annuum L. plants grown under varying moisture conditions (30% field capacity (FC), 50% FC, and 80% FC). Seed priming was conducted using two nutrient solutions: potassium nitrate (KnO₃) and zinc oxide (ZnO) with best-performing concentrations, i.e., ZnO 20 mg/L and KnO₃ 10 g/L and the best priming duration of 12 h obtained from a previous preliminary glasshouse experiment. The study examined the effectiveness of different priming solutions, zinc oxide, potassium nitrate (KnO₃), and water (H₂O), at various field capacities (30%, 50%, and 80%). The results demonstrated that nutrient priming significantly influenced nutrient uptake, with KnO₃ and H₂O priming showing the most pronounced effects on N, P, and K uptake. ZnO-primed seedlings absorbed 54.63% more nitrogen compared to the control and 25.7% more phosphorus. Zn uptake was significantly influenced by the interaction between priming treatment and moisture content, while ZnO priming generally resulted in 25.6% lower Zn uptake compared to the control and other treatments. The highest Zn concentrations of 32 mg/kg were observed in control plants grown under very low and optimum moisture conditions (30% and 80% field capacity). The results imply that the ideal absorption of Zn is influenced by both priming and moisture factors. Overall, this study highlights that nutrient seed priming, especially with KnO₃ and water, effectively enhances nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium uptake in Capsicum annuum plants. Optimizing priming treatments, especially in conjunction with appropriate moisture management (50–80% FC), is crucial for maximizing nutrient acquisition and plant growth and development. The complex interaction between ZnO priming and moisture content highlights the species-specific nature of priming responses, particularly for Zn absorption. Full article

In the 21st century, sustainable agriculture is expected to become a major contributor to food security and improved nutrition. Amine–epoxide-based materials have great potential for use in agriculture due to their tunable physicochemical features, which are dependent on the concentration and composition of the monomers. In this work, catalyst-free green synthesis, using only water as a solvent, was performed to obtain a nanocarrier (TGel) capable of transporting nutrients after seed priming. The synthesis was based on the opening of the epoxy ring by nucleophile attack, using an amine-terminated polyether. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques showed the spherical morphology of the particles, which ranged in size from 80 nm (unloaded TGel) to 360 nm (zinc-loaded TGel), respectively. Theoretical bonding analysis revealed that Zn cation species from the ZnSO₄ source interact with the polymer via σ-bonds, whereas EDTA forms hydrogen bonds with the polymer, thereby enhancing noncovalent interactions. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) provided details of the distributions of Zn in the seed compartments and shoots of cucumber plants after seed priming and plant growth, respectively. The use of the Zn-loaded TGels did not affect the physiology of the cucumber plants, as indicated by the photosynthetic efficacy, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin indices. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has drastically reshaped global health and socioeconomic landscapes. The papain-like protease (PLpro) plays a critical role in viral polyprotein cleavage and immune evasion, making it a prime target for therapeutic intervention. Numerous compounds have been identified as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, with many characterized through crystallographic studies. To date, over 70 three-dimensional (3D) structures of PLpro complexed ligands have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank, offering valuable insight into ligand-binding features that could aid the discovery and development of effective COVID-19 treatments targeting PLpro. In this study, we reviewed and analyzed these 3D structures, focusing on the key residues involved in ligand interactions. Our analysis revealed that most inhibitors bind to PLpro’s substrate recognition sites S3/S4 and SUb2. While these sites are highly attractive and have been extensively explored, other potential binding regions, such as SUb1 and the Zn(II) domain, are less explored and may hold untapped potential for future COVID-19 drug discovery and development. Our structural analysis provides insights into the molecular features of PLpro that could accelerate the development of novel therapeutics targeting this essential viral enzyme. Full article

This research study investigated the production and properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles derived from corn husks and their priming effects on wheat plant proliferation and antioxidant mechanisms compared to the nutri-priming technique under regular irrigation and drought-stressed conditions. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and X-ray diffraction confirmed the nanoparticles’ hexagonal morphology and typical dimensions of 51 nm. The size and stability of these nanoparticles were assessed through the size distribution and zeta potential analysis, indicating reasonable stability. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) detected the newly formed functional groups. This study emphasized the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phenolic compounds in plant responses to nanoparticle treatment, particularly in detoxifying harmful radicals. The research also examined the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR), in alleviating stress caused by oxidation while subjected to various treatments, including micronutrient seed priming with DR GREEN fertilizer. Some biochemical compounds, such as total phenolics (TPCs), total flavonoids (TFCs), and total hydrolysable sugars, were estimated as well to show the effect of the different treatments on the wheat plants. The findings suggested that ZnO nanoparticles can enhance antioxidant enzyme activity under certain conditions while posing phytotoxic risks, underscoring the complexity of plant–nanoparticle interactions and the potential for improving crop resilience through targeted micronutrient applications. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the foremost phytotoxic elements. Its proportion in agricultural soil is increasing critically due to anthropogenic activities. Cd stress is a major crop production threat affecting food security globally. Triacontanol (TRIA) is a phytohormone that promotes growth, development, and metabolic processes in plants. The current study explicates the mitigation of Cd toxicity in Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) seedlings through the application of TRIA by a seed priming technique under Cd stress. The role of TRIA in improving metabolic processes to promote Vigna radiata (mung bean, green gram) vegetative growth and performance under both stressed and unstressed conditions was examined during this study. To accomplish this, three doses of TRIA (10, 20, and 30 µmol L⁻¹) were used to pretreat V. radiata seeds before they were allowed to grow for 40 days in soil contaminated with 20 mg kg⁻¹ Cd. Cd stress lowered seed germination, morphological growth, and biomass in V. radiata plants. The maximum root and shoot lengths, fresh and dry weights of roots, and shoot and seed germination rates were recorded for TRIA2 compared with those of TRIA1 and TRIA3 under Cd stress. In Cd-stressed V. radiata plants, TRIA2 increased the content of chlorophyll a (2.1-fold) and b (3.1-fold), carotenoid (4.3-fold), total chlorophyll (3.1-fold), and gas exchange attributes, such as the photosynthetic rate (2.9-fold), stomatal conductance (6.0-fold), and transpiration rate (3.5-fold), compared with those in plants treated with only Cd. TRIA seed priming increased nutrient uptake (K¹⁺, Na¹⁺, Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺), total phenolic content, total soluble protein content, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity. Additionally, TRIA2 significantly reduced the quantity of Cd in the plants (3.0-fold) and increased the metal tolerance index (6.6-fold) in plants contrasted with those in the Cd-treated plants. However, TRIA2 promoted plant growth and biomass production by lowering Cd-induced stress through modifying the plant antioxidant machinery and reducing oxidative stress. The improved yield characteristics of V. radiata seedlings treated with TRIA suggest that exogenous TRIA may be used to increase plant tolerance to Cd stress. Full article

Background/Objectives: The biostimulant SuperFifty, produced from the brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum, can improve crop quality and yield and mitigate stress tolerance in model and crop plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, pepper, and tomato. However, the effect of SuperFifty on raspberries and strawberries has not been well studied, especially in terms of nutritional properties and yield. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SuperFifty on the quality and quantity of raspberry and strawberry fruits, with a focus on metabolic composition and essential elements, which together determine the nutritional properties and total yield of these two crops. Methods: Metabolome analysis was performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS), and essential elements analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Here, we demonstrate that SuperFifty increases the fruit size of both raspberries and strawberries and enhances the yield in these two berry crops by 42.1% (raspberry) and 33.9% (strawberry) while preserving the nutritional properties of the fruits. Metabolome analysis of 100 metabolites revealed that antioxidants, essential amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and vitamins, such as glutathione, alanine, asparagine, histidine, threonine, serine, tryptophan, sucrose, citric acid, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), as well as other primary metabolites, remain the same in the SuperFifty-primed fruits. Secondary metabolites, such as caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol, and quercetin, also maintained their levels in the SuperFifty-primed fruits. Analysis of essential elements demonstrated that elements important for human health, such as Zn, Mn, Fe, B, Cu, K, and Ca, maintain the same levels in the raspberry and strawberry fruits obtained from the biostimulant-primed plants. Magnesium, an important element known as a co-factor in many enzymatic reactions related to both plant physiology and human health, increased in both raspberry and strawberry fruits primed with SuperFifty. Finally, we discuss the potential financial and health benefits of the SuperFifty-induced priming for both growers and consumers. Conclusions: We demonstrate that SuperFifty significantly enhances the yield of both raspberries and strawberries, improves the marketable grade of the fruits (larger and heavier fruits), and enhances the nutritional properties by elevating Mg content in the fruits. Altogether, this biostimulant-induced molecular priming offers an environmentally friendly, efficient, and sustainable way to enhance the yield and quality of berry crops, with clear benefits to both berry producers and customers. Full article

In soybean production, numerous strategies are utilized to enhance seed quality and mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors. Zn-based nutrient priming has been shown to be effective for field crops, and biopriming is a strategy that is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, there is a lack of information about the effect of comprehensive nutrient priming and biopriming techniques on soybean seed quality and viability and seed health. This study was performed to assess the benefits of nutrient priming with Zn, biopriming with Bacillus megaterium and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (single and co-inoculation), and combination of nutrient priming and biopriming on the seed quality and viability, as well as seed infection caused by Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. Three different laboratory tests were employed: germination test, accelerated aging test, and seed health test. The results revealed that all tested priming treatments have a beneficial effect on seed germination, initial plant growth, and reduction of seed infection in normal and aged seeds. Additionally, comprehensive priming with Zn, Bacillus megaterium, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum reduced the occurrence of Alternaria spp. (−84% and −75%) and Fusarium spp. (−91% and −88%) on soybean seeds in the germination and accelerated aging tests, respectively, as compared to the control, which proved to be the most effective treatment in both optimal and stressful conditions. Full article

The enhancement of seed germination by using nanoparticles (NPs) holds the potential to elicit the synthesis of more desired compounds with important biomedical applications, such as preventing protein glycation, which occurs in diabetes. Here, we used 7 nm and 100 nm ZnO and 4.5 nm and 16.7 nm Fe₂O₃ NPs to treat sunflower seeds. We evaluated the effects on germination, total phenolic content, and the anti-glycation potential of extracted polyphenols. Sunflower seeds were allowed to germinate in vitro after soaking in NP solutions of different concentrations. Polyphenols were extracted, dosed, and used in serum albumin glycation experiments. The germination speed of seeds was significantly increased by the 100 nm ZnO NPs and significantly decreased by the 4.5 nm Fe₂O₃ NPs. The total phenolic content (TPC) of seeds was influenced by the type of NP, as ZnO NPs enhanced TPC, and the size of the NPs, as smaller NPs led to improved parameters. The polyphenols extracted from seeds inhibited protein glycation, especially those extracted from seeds treated with 7 nm ZnO. The usage of NPs impacted the germination speed and total polyphenol content of sunflower seeds, highlighting the importance of NP type and size in the germination process. Full article

Drought poses a significant threat to global food security, particularly impacting rice cultivation during the germination stage. In this study, a soil-based system that utilizes soil moisture content was used to simulate optimal and stress conditions to assess the effect of the specific seed priming protocols on germination. Eleven rice varieties, representative of indica and japonica subspecies, grown in different ecosystems and having diverse nutrient contents, were treated with water or solutions of either poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) or denatured γ-PGA. Collected data regarding germinability and stress indices revealed different drought sensitivity between japonica and indica subspecies and genotype-specific responses to priming. Particularly, γ-PGA improved germination of highly susceptible indica varieties whereas water soaking was more effective for the moderately sensitive japonica varieties. Integrative analyses evidenced differences between biofortified and non-biofortified rice under γ-PGA treatment, suggesting a possible correlation between γ-PGA efficacy and Zn/Fe seed content. These findings underline that priming strategies should be tailored based on genotype and therefore this factor should be always taken under consideration for future works. The current study provides relevant information for optimizing seed priming techniques to sustain the development of drought-resilient crops as a sustainable strategy to address agricultural resilience and safeguard food security amidst environmental challenges. Full article

One of the main climate change-related variables limiting agricultural productivity that ultimately leads to food insecurity appears to be drought. With the use of a recently discovered nanopriming technology, seeds can endure various abiotic challenges. To improve seed quality and initial growth of 8-day-old field pea seedlings (cv. NS Junior) under optimal and artificial drought (PEG-induced) laboratory conditions, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of priming with three different nanomaterials: Nanoplant Ultra (Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, and Se), Nanoplant Ca-Si (Ca, Si, B, and Fe), and Nanoplant Sulfur (S). The findings indicate that nanopriming seed treatments have a positive impact on seed quality indicators, early plant growth, and drought resilience in field pea plants established in both optimal and drought-stressed conditions. Nevertheless, all treatments showed a positive effect, but their modes of action varied. Nanoplant Ultra proved to be the most effective under optimal conditions, whereas Nanoplant Ca-Si and Nanoplant Sulfur were the most efficient under drought stress. After a field evaluation, the examined comprehensive nanomaterials may be utilized as priming agents for pea seed priming to boost seed germination, initial plant growth, and crop productivity under various environmental conditions. Full article

In viticulture, the main target is to achieve high yield and good fruit quality without compromising vine growth. Methods to achieve this balance will vary with regard to climate and cultivar. A two-year study was conducted on five-year-old ‘Prime Seedless’ grapevines to evaluate the effect of leaf defoliation and the foliar application of low-biuret urea (LBU) and cyanocobalamin (CCA) on berry set percentage, the compactness coefficient of the clusters and the overall quality of clusters and berries. The removal of the first four basal leaves was conducted at the full-bloom (FB) stage, while LBU (5 g·L⁻¹) and CCA (40 mg·L⁻¹) were sprayed at three phenological stages: (1) when the cluster length reached ~10 cm long, (2) at FB and (3) one week after the fruit set. The results demonstrated that the sole application of basal leaf removal (BLR) or in combination with LBU and/or CCA improved the vegetative growth, total yield and physiochemical characteristics of clusters and berries, whereas the same treatments decreased berry set and shot berry percentages and the compactness coefficient of the clusters, which in turn led to looser clusters compared to the control. The most pronounced effect was recorded for the combined application of BLR, LBU and CCA, which revealed the highest values of shoot length, leaf area and the contents of chlorophyll, proline, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn. The same treatment recorded the lowest berry set and shot berry percentages, compactness coefficient of clusters and decay percentage. Overall, this treatment was the best in terms of total yield, cluster weight, berry firmness, soluble solid content (SSC), the SSC/acid ratio, total sugars, total carotenoids, total phenols, phenylalanine ammonialyase and polyphenol oxidase. Full article

Several Jurassic, ophiolite-hosted Cu-Zn VMS deposits occur in Tuscany. They are hosted by tectonic units of oceanic affinity (Ligurian Units), such as the well-known deposits of nearby Liguria. Industrial production was small and definitively ceased in the 1960s. Locally, massive ore (chalcopyrite-bornite-chalcocite) with an exceptionally high grade was found. The Montecatini Val di Cecina mine exploited the largest “bonanza” and, for few decades in the 19th century, became one of the most profitable copper mines in Europe. This study provides an updated review of these deposits. Tuscan Cu-Zn VMSs mostly occur in proximity of the contact between the serpentinite-gabbro basement and the overlying basalts. Chalcopyrite-pyrite stockworks occur in serpentinite-gabbro cut by dolerite dykes, while the largest massive sulphide bodies are hosted by polymictic-monomictic breccias at the base of pillow basalts. Early chalcopyrite ores were mechanically–chemically reworked and upgraded to bornite-rich nodular ore embedded in a chlorite, calcic amphibole, Fe-rich serpentine, quartz, andradite, ilvaite, and xonotlite assemblage. This bornite-rich ore contains substantial amount of sphalerite and pyrite and ubiquitous grains of clausthalite, hessite, tellurium, and gold. They represent a prime example of the sub-seafloor portion of a hybrid mafic-ultramafic oceanic hydrothermal system formed in an OCC along the slow spreading ridge of the Jurassic Piedmont-Ligurian Ocean. The peculiar mineralogical–textural character of the bornite-rich ore was driven by an interface coupled dissolution–precipitation process mediated by fluids. Full article

Within the framework of plant biostimulation, a pivotal role is played by the achievement of low-cost, easily prepared nanoparticles for priming purposes. Therefore, in this report, two different synthetic strategies are described to engineer zinc oxide nanoparticles with an inulin coating. In both protocols, i.e., two-step and gel-like one-pot protocols, nanoparticles with a highly pure ZnO kernel are obtained when the reaction is carried out at T ≥ 40 °C, as ascertained by XRD and ATR/FTIR studies. However, a uniformly dispersed, highly homogeneous coating is achieved primarily when different temperatures, i.e., 60 °C and 40 °C, are employed in the two phases of the step-wise synthesis. In addition, a different binding mechanism, i.e., complexation, occurs in this case. When the gel-like process is employed, a high degree of coverage by the fructan is attained, leading to micrometric coated aggregates of nanometric particles, as revealed by SEM investigations. All NPs from the two-step synthesis feature electronic bandgaps in the 3.25–3.30 eV range in line with previous studies, whereas the extensive coating causes a remarkable 0.4 eV decrease in the bandgap. Overall, the global analysis of the investigations indicates that the samples synthesized at 60 °C and 40 °C are the best suited for biostimulation. Proof-of-principle assays upon Vicia faba seed priming with Zn5 and Zn5@inu indicated an effective growth stimulation of seedlings at doses of 100 mgKg⁻¹, with concomitant Zn accumulation in the leaves. Full article