Producing high-quality table grapes is becoming a challenge in the warmer area of the world due to the global increase in temperature, which negatively affects anthocyanin biosynthesis and other fruit quality attributes. Nanotechnology is a growing field that can be a very useful tool to improve crop productivity and sustainability. The red color is one of the major fruit quality parameters that determine table grape marketability. This study aimed to investigate the role of the zinc element in improving the marketable characteristics of Crimson seedless (Vitis vinifera L.) table grape berries i.e., color, firmness, total soluble solids and sugars; besides its role in activating PAL and SOD enzymatic systems. Additionally, this paper investigated the additive advantages of zinc when applied in nanometric form. Five concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles, ZnO NPs (0, 25, 50, 100 and 250 ppm), were compared to zinc oxide in mineral form at a concentration of 250 ppm to investigate their effects on the marketable characteristics of Crimson seedless grape cultivar. The treatments were applied as foliar spray on three-year-old Crimson seedless vines grafted on Richter 110 rootstock grown in one of the major table grape production area in Egypt. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized block design and each vine was sprayed with five letters of the solution. The use of the lowest concentration (25 ppm) of ZnO NPs achieved the highest significant enzyme activity (PAL and SOD). Moreover, the T.S.S, sugars and anthocyanin content in berries increased significantly in association of decreasing acidity. On the other hand, the use of a 50 ppm concentration led to an increase in fruit firmness. Collectively, our data showed that 25 ppm of zinc nanoparticles improved PAL and SOD enzymes activity, improved red coloration in table grape and was more effective than the 250 ppm zinc oxide mineral form.

The primary worldwide variables limiting plant development and agricultural output are the ever-present threat that environmental stressors such as salt (may trigger osmotic stress plus ions toxicity, which impact on growth and yield of the plants), drought (provokes water stress, resulting in lowering photosynthesis process and growth rate), heavy metals (induced toxicity, hindering physiological processes also lowering crop quantity and quality), and pathogens (induce diseases that may significantly affect plant health beside productivity). This review explores the integrated effects of these stressors on plant productivity and growth rate, emphasizing how each stressor exceptionally plays a role in physiological responses. Owing to developments in technology that outclass traditional breeding methods and genetic engineering techniques, powerful alleviation strategies are vital. New findings have demonstrated the remarkable role of nanoparticles in regulating responses to these environmental stressors. In this review, we summarize the roles and various applications of nanomaterials in regulating abiotic and biotic stress responses. This review discusses and explores the relationship between various types of nanoparticles (metal, carbon-based, and biogenic) and their impact on plant physiology. Furthermore, we assess how nanoparticle technology may play a role in practices of sustainable agriculture by reducing the amount of compounds used, providing them with a larger surface area, highly efficient mass transfer abilities, and controlled, targeted delivery of lower nutrient or pesticide amounts. A review of data from several published studies leads to the conclusion that nanoparticles may act as a synergistic effect, which can effectively increase plant stress tolerance and their nutritional role.

The control of powdery mildew disease is one of the main objectives in Mango production. Mango production with superior quality is becoming increasingly challenging due to climate change, which may negatively affect all stages of their development. Recently, Nanotechnology is a promising and rapidly evolving field that could be a very useful tool to raise the efficiency of fungicides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) and reducing the incidence of powdery mildew, improving growth performance and productivity of mango cv. Keitt (Mangifera indica L.). Four concentrations of SNPs (0, 100, 300, and 500 ppm) were compared to sulfur microform (bulk) at a concentration of 500 ppm. At a private farm on Cairo Alex Desert Road K78, Egypt, foliar spray treatments were administered to an eight-year-old mango cv. Keitt grafted on Sukari rootstock. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design, with each tree receiving a five-liter spray of the solution. The results suggested that the use of 500 ppm concentration of SNPs led to reducing powdery mildew disease incidence by 8.8% but it negatively affected productivity, as it decreased by 27% compared to the control treatment. Whereas 100 ppm concentration of SNPs led to increasing the productivity by 342% compared to the control treatment, reducing powdery mildew disease incidence in mango was recorded at 14.6%. Furthermore, the TSS and vitamin C increased significantly by 16 Brix and 46.3 mg, respectively, in association with decreasing titratable acidity in fruits. In aggregate, our data demonstrated that 100 ppm and 300 ppm of sulfur nanoparticles was more efficient than 500 ppm of sulfur bulk in improving POD and PPO enzyme activity. It is recommended to add SNPs of 100 ppm as foliar spraying three times at 15-day intervals for alleviating the harmful impact of disease on mango trees by improving the enzyme activity, thereby yield, and fruit quality of mango trees exposed to powdery mildew disease.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has become a key driver of vertical farming (VF), offering innovative solutions for the sustainable production of ornamental plants in urban environments with limited arable land. This review examines recent advances in VF technologies and their applications in foliage and flowering ornamental plant production. The literature indicates that precise environmental control, including optimized LED lighting spectra, hydroponic and aeroponic nutrient delivery, and automated climate regulation, can significantly enhance plant growth, morphological characteristics, color intensity, and overall market quality of ornamental species. In addition, VF systems demonstrate substantial reductions in water consumption, pesticide use, and land requirements compared with conventional cultivation methods. However, several challenges remain, including high-energy demand, economic feasibility, and the need for crop-specific environmental optimization for different ornamental species. This review synthesizes current research on VF systems, highlights the integration of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven management tools, and evaluates their potential to improve production efficiency and sustainability in ornamental horticulture. Overall, vertical farming represents a promising approach for high-quality ornamental plant production, although further research is required to optimize energy efficiency and cultivation protocols for diverse ornamental crops.

Background: Crimson Seedless is a globally important table grape cultivar valued for its color, marketability, and nutritional quality. However, enhancing berry coloration and biochemical quality remains a major challenge, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. In this context, the individual application of nanoparticles or molasses as natural organic stimulants may offer an effective. This study hypothesizes that foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and molasses, either individually or in combination, would increase yield, berry coloration, and antioxidant-related biochemical parameters compared with those of the untreated control. The experiment included eight treatments applied to five grapevines per treatment via a randomized complete block design (RCBD) over two consecutive seasons (2023–2024), and the effects of ZnO NPs at 10, 50, and 100 mg L ^− 1 , applied alone or in combination with molasses at 1.5 cm³ L ^− 1 , on productivity, cluster traits, anthocyanin accumulation, and antioxidant-related enzymes were evaluated. Results: In terms of productivity, cluster quality, and berry coloration, the treatment with ZnO NPs plus molasses followed closely by ZnO NPs alone surpassed the nontreated vines. The 10 mg L ^− 1 ZnO NPs + molasses treatment was superior for most of the studied parameters. For example, the total yield increased by approximately 8.9–11.4%, the total soluble solid (TSS) content increased by 48.4–43.8%, the firmness increased by 8.1–12.0%, and the acidity decreased by 16.3–15.4% compared with those of the control treatment in both seasons. Additionally, the same treatment resulted in the greatest increase in anthocyanin content (104.3–73.4%) and PAL activity (48.4–58.1%) compared with those of the control in both seasons. Conclusion: The application of 10 mg L ^-1 ZnO NPs + 1.5 cm ³ L ^-1 molasses once at the veraison stage increased the grape yield, color, and biochemical quality. While a single-stage application was effective, further studies could explore multistage applications or alternative timings to optimize the results. Graphical

Climate change represents a major global challenge that threatens agricultural productivity, ecosystem stability, and food security by intensifying abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Solanaceous crops, which are economically and nutritionally important worldwide, are highly sensitive to these stresses, leading to oxidative damage, impaired photosynthesis, and reduced yield and quality. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate these adverse effects. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) enhance nutrient uptake, improve water-use efficiency, and regulate plant metabolic processes. They also activate antioxidant defense systems, reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), and improve the delivery efficiency of growth regulators and bioactive compounds. This review synthesizes recent literature on abiotic stress responses in solanaceous crops and evaluates the role of nanoparticles as mitigation strategies, focusing on physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. The scope includes drought, salinity, and temperature stresses, as well as nano-enabled applications such as nano-carriers and nano-sensors. Overall, nanoparticle applications improve plant tolerance by enhancing antioxidant activity, regulating stress-responsive pathways, and improving resource-use efficiency, thereby contributing to increased crop productivity under climate change conditions. However, challenges related to nanoparticle toxicity and environmental risks remain, emphasizing the need for optimized and safe application strategies. These findings highlight the potential of nanotechnology as a sustainable tool to enhance the resilience and productivity of solanaceous crops under changing climatic conditions. This review highlights that nanoparticles can enhance abiotic stress tolerance in solanaceous crops by improving antioxidant activity, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and water-use efficiency under adverse environmental conditions. Overall, nanotechnology represents a promising strategy for sustainable crop production under climate change, although further studies are needed to ensure its environmental safety and long-term applicability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of abiotic stress effects on solanaceous crops and highlights the role of nanoparticles as a sustainable tool to enhance plant tolerance, productivity, and resilience under climate change conditions.