The production and extensive use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various fields necessitate thorough testing, not only in terms of their potential applications but also regarding the effects they induce on various organisms. In addition, nanoparticles generated from various anthropogenic activities, which reach or are formed in the atmosphere, have a significant impact on the health of humans and other living organisms. Recent research indicates that the effects produced by these nanoparticles are dependent on their size and applied dose. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and cytogenotoxic effects induced by different doses of AgNPs compared to positive and negative controls in Triticum aestivum L. and Allium cepa L. A significant stimulatory effect of the treatment performed with the solution of AgNPs with a size of 20 nm, at the lowest concentration (0.02 µg mL⁻¹), in the two tested species, was obtained. The growth and weight of the seedling were significantly increased, and the mitotic index was also elevated. Additionally, this treatment variant showed the lowest percentage of chromosomal aberrations. No significant differences were observed in cell viability, total polyphenol content, proline levels, or assimilatory pigment concentrations compared to the control. Our findings show that AgNPs may exert stimulatory effects, whether significant or not, on certain physiological and biochemical parameters. However, they also interfere with cell cycle regulation and genomic stability, raising concerns regarding their environmental and biological safety. The Allium test proved to be an effective method for detecting nanoparticle-induced genotoxicity and can be recommended as a preliminary screening assay in nanoparticle safety evaluations.

Fruit peels represent an abundant source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in green nanotechnology and plant protection. This study comparatively evaluated ethanolic extracts obtained from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), and persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) peels and the corresponding silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-containing phytosynthesis preparations. The extracts were characterized for phytochemical and antioxidant properties and used for AgNP phytosynthesis, followed by UV-Vis, FTIR, BF-STEM, and EDS characterization. Their effects on Triticum aestivum L., Zea mays L., and Cucumis sativus L., as well as their antifungal activity against selected fungal strains, were comparatively assessed. Pomegranate peel extract showed the highest total phenolic content (147.52 mg g⁻¹ fw) and the strongest antifungal activity against Penicillium hirsutum, with an inhibition zone of 30 mm, followed by orange (27 mm) and persimmon (17.33 mm) peel extracts. The AgNP-containing preparations generally produced lower inhibition zones than the corresponding crude extracts. Antioxidant activity also decreased following phytosynthesis, with the most pronounced reduction observed for the orange peel system (90.72% to 35.17%). Plant responses were species- and treatment-dependent, with maize showing the lowest overall sensitivity to the investigated treatments. Overall, the results demonstrate that conversion of fruit peel extracts into AgNP-containing preparations does not necessarily enhance their biological activity and emphasize the importance of considering both the phytochemical characteristics of the starting extracts and the biological target when developing fruit-waste-derived systems for potential plant-protection applications.