Plant Productions

Investigating the physicochemical changes of Golden Delicious apple fruit (Malus domestica cv. Golden Delicious) with the application of chitosan and nanochitosan before harvesting and calcium chloride immersion after harvesting

Fatemeh Eyni Tari; Abdollah Ehtesham Nia; Hassan mumivand; Mohamadreza Raji

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 28 September 2024

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2024.47136.2177

Abstract

IntroductionToday, healthy lifestyle has faced a high demand at the global level and this demand has increased the need to preserve or better store fresh food items such as fruits because ... Read More IntroductionToday, healthy lifestyle has faced a high demand at the global level and this demand has increased the need to preserve or better store fresh food items such as fruits because of their abundant amounts of vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, the increase in post-harvest waste has made it necessary to develop the use of natural compounds compatible with nature and humans, in order to produce products free of harmful substances and with high nutritional value, along with reducing waste.Materials and MethodsFor this purpose, the present experiment is a factorial in the form of a completely randomized design, in 4 replications and includes the first factor of foliar treatments before and after harvesting, including control treatments (spraying with distilled water), chitosan (50 mg/lit) and Nano chitosan (50 and 100 mg/lit) and immersion of the harvested fruits with calcium chloride solution in the post-harvest phase (0 and 2 %) and the second factor of storage time (at 0, 60, 90 and 120 days) ) was carried out on fruits of Golden delicious apple grafted on MM 111 (Malling Merton 111). The foliar spraying before harvesting was done in an 18-year-old apple orchard, located in the Abestan region of Khorramabad city, and the immersion phase was carried out in the laboratory after harvesting at Lorestan University. After initial washing, the fruits were first washed with distilled water, dried and then immersed in calcium chloride solution at room temperature for 8 minutes. Then, in the vicinity of the cool air flow, in order to ensure the removal of excess surface moisture, it was kept in plastic fruit boxes and in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4 ° and a relative humidity of 80-90% until the time of measuring the parameters. In this study, physiological and biochemical characteristics such as weight loss, acidity, titratable acids, soluble solids, ripening index, vitamin C and malondialdehyde were investigated.Results and DiscussionThe results of the research showed that the treatments used affected the investigated characteristics of apple fruit. The treated fruits had less weight loss than the control treatment. Examining the biochemical characteristics also showed the positive effect of all the treatments on the desired parameters, so that the most titratable acids, vitamin C and the least amount of acidity and malondialdehyde were obtained in the combined treatments of nano chitosan and calcium chloride. Also, the treatments used reduced the soluble solids and fruit ripening index. Coatings such as chitosan create a barrier with selective permeability against oxygen and carbon dioxide gases and create an altered atmosphere by placing carbon dioxide at a higher level and reducing oxygen around the fruit, which process increases respiration rate and ethylene production. reduce the aging process.ConclusionBased on the general results, it can be stated that the application of 100 mg/lit chitosan nanoparticle treatments in the pre-harvest stage along with the immersion of the fruits in the post-harvest stage in a 2% calcium chloride solution, in most features It showed better results than other treatment levels.

Efficacy of nitric oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in improving growth, nutrition, metabolism and reproductive development in tomato

Elham Danaee; Zahra Oraghi Ardebili

Volume 47, Issue 3 , November 2024, , Pages 337-353

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2024.46944.2170

Abstract

IntroductionThere is no doubt that significant progress is being made in nanoscience and technology, which has paved the way for advancements in many different fields such as agriculture, ... Read More IntroductionThere is no doubt that significant progress is being made in nanoscience and technology, which has paved the way for advancements in many different fields such as agriculture, biology, food, and medicine. Among the different types of nano-scaled metal oxides, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are among the most widely employed nano-compounds in various industries, including agriculture, food, and medicine. Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive signaling substance in living organisms, including plants, which plays vital roles in different stages of plant development during the life cycle. Physiological responses of crop plants to long-term application of NO or ZnONPs individually and mixed manners have not been well investigated and remain largely unknown. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of long-term foliar application of NO or ZnONPs on the growth performance and physiology of tomato plants. Considering the necessity of developing a sustainable agricultural approach, this project was designed to evaluate the effect of long-term foliar application of NO or ZnONPs on the growth, performance, nutrition and metabolism of tomato. Materials and methodsThis study was implemented as a completely randomized design with four treatment groups and three independent replications. This experiment was conducted in soilless conditions (cocopeat and perlite) in a greenhouse (Islamic Azad University, Garmsar branch, Garmsar). Tomato seedlings was irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution. 30-days-old tomato seedlings were sprayed with ZnO-NP at two concentrations (0 and 3 mg/L) or NO (0 and 25 μM) 15 times with an interval of 72 hours. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that NO and ZnONPs treatments, especially in the combined one, caused a significant increase in the biomass in shoot and root compared to the control. The applied treatments also affected the characteristics of the plants in the reproductive stage. The application of NO and ZnONPs treatments significantly reduced the time of entering into the reproductive phase, increased fruit production, and enhanced fruit biomass, which indicated the effectiveness of these treatments on plant reproductive development. Foliar spraying with NO and ZnONPs caused a significant improvement in the content of several essential minerals, including potassium (K+), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in leaves and fruits, compared to the control group. The NO and ZnONPs treatments synergistically and significantly augmented in the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), and carotenoids in leaves in comparison to the control group. The highest amount of proline amino acid was observed in ZnONP and NO+ZnONP treatment groups, which was significantly higher than the control group. Single and combined treatments of seedlings with NO and ZnONPs led to a significant increase in the content of soluble phenols in leaves compared to the control group. Phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) enzyme activity also followed the same trend as soluble phenols. Also, the activity of antioxidant peroxidase enzyme showed a significant up-regulation in response to the application of NO or ZnONPs. The highest activity of nitrate reductase enzyme was recorded in the leaves of plants simultaneously supplemented with NO and ZnONPs. ConclusionThe results of this research indicated that foliar spraying with NO or ZnONPs at low concentration can lead to the promotion of plant growth and metabolism and also strengthening the plant's defense system, while reducing the risk of possible toxicity. These findings can be useful for designing future studies on nano-fertilizers or pesticides. This study also emphasizes the necessity of providing transcriptome and proteome data in future studies.

The effect of salinity stress and the application of silver nanoparticles on flowering and some physico-biochemical characteristics of French parsley (Tagetes patula L.)

Khatoun Behzad; Abdollah Ehtesham Nia; Mohamadreza Raji; Hasan Moumivand; Majid Alikhani-Koupaei

Volume 47, Issue 2 , August 2024, , Pages 275-291

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2024.45252.2130

Abstract

IntroductionSalinity stress leads to ion toxicity and osmotic stress. Salinity stress through the osmotic mechanism, due to the reduction of the osmotic potential of the soil solution, ... Read More IntroductionSalinity stress leads to ion toxicity and osmotic stress. Salinity stress through the osmotic mechanism, due to the reduction of the osmotic potential of the soil solution, causes disturbances in transpiration and photosynthesis. The mechanism of action of ionic toxicity is also related to ion absorption and changes in physiological processes caused by toxicity, deficiency or change in the balance of mineral elements. In the last decade, the tendency to use metal nanoparticle compounds in agriculture and horticultural sciences has become popular. Researchers believe that silver nanoparticles are absorbed faster by plants due to their small size and high solubility, therefore, by using these materials, optimal conditions for plant growth are created and stress conditions are prevented in the plant.Materials and MethodsThe experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of Horticultural Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture located in Khorramabad city, Lorestan province in 2021. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in the form of a completely randomized design with four replications. The first factor was included salinity treatment at four levels (0, 25, 50 and 100 mM NaCl, respectively equivalent to 0.067, 2.450, 5.440 and 9.520 dS m-1) and the second factor was foliar application of nanosilver at 4 levels (0, 10, 50 and 100 ppm). Salinity treatments were started gradually with the application of low concentration of salt after establishing the plants in the pot. Nano silver foliar spraying was applied weekly for 5 times until the flowering stage. Foliar spraying with silver nanoparticles was done in 3 stages of four leaves, full growth and flowering.Results and DiscussionIn this study, application of nanosilver increased the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of parsley, including the fresh weight of the flower (by 2.23%). Nanosilver in concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/liter increases the relative content of leaf water (7.70%), the content of total phenol (5.96%), the content of total flavonoids (34.91%) and the amount of potassium in leaves (4.055 %) under salinity stress conditions. Additionally, the lowest amount of sodium leaf (0.162 %), ion leakage (25.44 %) and malondialdehyde (21.56 %) was observed in this treatment. Researchers believe that silver nanoparticles are absorbed faster by plants due to their small size and high solubility, therefore, by using these materials, optimal conditions for plant growth are created and any stressful conditions are prevented in the plant. Silver nanoparticles with suitable size and remarkable chemical stability remain in constant shape and size in solutions.ConclusionBased on the results observed in this study, the treatment of silver nanoparticles in concentrations of 10 and 50 ppm in the conditions of salinity stress, relative water content of leaves, potassium content of leaves, fresh and dry weight of flowers and time of budding and flowering were increased, while ion leakage, malondialdehyde, proline, total phenol and flavonoid content, and sodium content of leaves were decreased. Therefore, it can be stated that the application of silver nanoparticles in the form of foliar spraying at levels of 10 and 50 ppm can reduce the negative effects caused by salinity stress and improve the ornamental characteristics of parsley in 25 and 50 mM of salinity stress..

Antioxidative and pigment response of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) to Zinc oxide and Cerium dioxide nano elicitors

Hadiseh Sadeghi; Jafar Ahmadi; Farhad Habibzadeh; Sedigheh Fabriki Ourang

Volume 47, Issue 1 , June 2024, , Pages 131-146

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2024.44522.2119

Abstract

Introduction Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a perennial and woody shrub that grows in different regions of Iran and the world. The Berberidaceae family has a high potential ... Read More Introduction Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a perennial and woody shrub that grows in different regions of Iran and the world. The Berberidaceae family has a high potential in food and pharmaceutical industries due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Elicitors are biotic or abiotic stimulators that can induce responses in plants. Abiotic elicitors are used to increase secondary metabolites in plants. Nanoparticles have minimum dimensions between one and 100 nanometers, which have specific physical and chemical properties. Like many nanoparticles, zinc oxide and cerium dioxide nanoparticles are toxic to living organisms. The mechanism of toxicity of nanoparticles is generally contributed to the induction of oxidative stress which lead to the formation of free radicals. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide and cerium dioxide can increase the antioxidant capacity of plants by stimulating oxidative stress. Material and methods In order to study the changes in the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Japanese barberry under the influence of abiotic elicitors, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in the greenhouse and laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Imam Khomeini International University in 2019. Treatments were included zinc oxide elicitors (0.1 g/L) and cerium dioxide nanoparticles (0.0002 g/L) and control (no elicitor). In this research, the amounts of protein, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic pigments in tissues of Japanese barberry were measured. Data analysis was done with SAS 9.1.3 statistical software. Comparison of means was done with Duncan's multiple range test and graphs were drawn using Excel software. Results and Discussion The results of the data analysis of variance showed that the effect of treatment with cerium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticle elicitors on the amount of leaf protein, antioxidant activity and also the amount of photosynthetic pigments was significant. Comparison of the means showed that these two elicitors increased the leaf protein content by 26.2% and 12.4%, respectively, compared to the control, but they did not have a significant effect on the root protein content. Cerium dioxide decreased the activity of guaiacol peroxidase enzyme by 77.1% in the root; But in leaves, the activity of this enzyme increased by 134.8% due to treatment with zinc oxide. The highest activity of leaf superoxide dismutase enzyme (25.2% increase compared to control) was related to zinc oxide treatment. The lowest content of catalase enzyme in leaves and roots was obtained with cerium dioxide and zinc oxide. Zinc oxide increased the activity of leaf ascorbate peroxidase enzyme by 111.8%; In the root, the highest and lowest activity levels of this enzyme were obtained in the control and cerium dioxide treatments, respectively. Both elicitors significantly increased the leaf peroxidase enzyme activity compared to the control (128.6% and 157.1%, respectively); However, only the treatment with zinc oxide caused a significant increase of 25.5% in the activity of this enzyme in the root. The highest activity of glutathione reductase enzyme in leaf and root was observed in zinc oxide treatment (23.3% and 12.5% increase compared to control). Nano zinc oxide increased the amount of total chlorophyll and carotenoid in the leaves compared to the control by 93.4 and 67.5%, respectively. Conclusion It was concluded that zinc oxide nanoparticles elicitor had the greatest effect in increasing the amount of photosynthetic pigments and enzyme activity. By using this elicitor in Japanese barberry culture, the amount of antioxidant enzymes can be increased and the extract can be used as a strong antioxidant in pharmaceutical products. .

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Keywords = Nanoparticles

Investigating the physicochemical changes of Golden Delicious apple fruit (Malus domestica cv. Golden Delicious) with the application of chitosan and nanochitosan before harvesting and calcium chloride immersion after harvesting

Abstract

Efficacy of nitric oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in improving growth, nutrition, metabolism and reproductive development in tomato

Abstract

The effect of salinity stress and the application of silver nanoparticles on flowering and some physico-biochemical characteristics of French parsley (Tagetes patula L.)

Abstract

Antioxidative and pigment response of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) to Zinc oxide and Cerium dioxide nano elicitors

Abstract