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STANDARDIZING THE APPROPRIATE DOSES OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) SEEDS GROWN UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

T. Ghosh,S. Yadav,S. Yadav,K. Atta,A. Singh,A. Gaber,A. Hossain

Published 2025 in Applied Ecology and Environmental Research

ABSTRACT

. Tomato is one of the most widely grown horticultural crop species worldwide because of its high demand, nutritional benefits, and economic significance. Abiotic stress, particularly salinity stress, results in poor plant stand establishment, leading to decreased yield and quality. To address this problem, in this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a seed priming agent to increase tomato seed quality under salinity stress. For standardization, three different concentrations of ZnO NPs (250, 500, and 750 ppm) and three soaking durations (3, 6, and 8 h) were tested, along with hydroprimed and unprimed controls. Among these, tomato seeds primed with ZnO NPs at 750 ppm for 6 h presented significantly greater germination (92%), seed vigour index I (1399) and seed vigour index II (1813) values. The standardized treatment was further evaluated for seed quality and biochemical parameters under 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl. Salinity stress (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl) markedly affected the seed quality parameters as well as the biochemical traits of 14-day-old tomato seedlings. Under salinity stress (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl), a significant decrease in the germination percentage (2–11%), seedling dry weight (17–29%), total seedling length (17–26%), seed vigour index I (19–32%), seed vigour index II (18–35%), and chlorophyll content (24–55%) was detected, whereas a significant increase in the proline content (84–131%), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (20–32%), and catalase (CAT) activity (19-39%) was detected compared with those in the control (no stress conditions). Overall, nanopriming with ZnO NPs at 750 ppm for 6 h significantly increased chlorophyll production, antioxidative mechanisms, and osmotic regulation, which reduced the accumulation of ROS and lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane. These effects may help alleviate the detrimental impacts of salinity stress on tomato plants, which ultimately increases their productivity even under saline conditions.

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