The effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on seed germination and seedling growth of Capsicum annuum L. were determined in this research. Total phenols content, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins, as well as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant capacity was determined. Results indicated that treatment with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) improved seed germination rate during the first seven days. The seed vigor germination increased 123.50%, 129.40% and 94.17% by treatment with ZnO-NPs suspensions at 100, 200 and 500 ppm, respectively. The morphological parameters tested revealed that ZnO-NPs treatments did not significantly affect plumule development, but they had a significant impact (p ≤ 0.01) on radicle length. Suspensions at 100, 200 and 500 ppm of ZnO-NPs inhibited seedling radicle growth and promoted accumulation of phenolic compounds, with a phytotoxic effect in this organ. Results suggested that zinc oxide nanoparticles influence seed vigor and seedling development and promoted the accumulation of desirable phenolic compounds in the radicle.

The objective of this study was to determine the oxidative stress and the physiological and antioxidant responses of coriander plants (Coriandrum sativum) grown for 58 days in soil with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) at concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg of Zn/kg of soil. The results revealed that all Zn compounds increased the total chlorophyll content (CHLt) by at least 45%, compared to the control group; however, with 400 mg/kg of ZnSO₄, chlorophyll accumulation decreased by 34.6%. Zn determination by induction-plasma-coupled atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES) showed that Zn absorption in roots and shoots occurred in plants exposed to ZnSO₄ at all concentrations, which resulted in high levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Only at 400 mg/kg of ZnSO₄, a 78.6% decrease in the MDA levels was observed. According to the results, the ZnSO₄ treatments were more effective than the ZnO NPs to increase the antioxidant activity of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidases (POD). The results corroborate that phytotoxicity was higher in plants subjected to ZnSO₄ compared to treatments with ZnO NPs, which suggests that the toxicity was due to Zn accumulation in the tissues by absorbing dissolved Zn⁺⁺ ions.

The genetic improvement program of the Seed Technology Training and Development Center works on the agronomic characterization and the content of bioactive compounds in eight genotypes of habanero pepper. The objective is to select genotypes with good agronomic performance that allow the generation of inbred lines to obtain hybrids. In this study, the agronomic performance and the content of bioactive compounds (capsaicinoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity) were evaluated in eight genotypes of habanero pepper grown in the southeast of Coahuila, Mexico, identified as HNC-1, HNC-2, HNC-3, HNC-4, HNC-5, HNC-6, HNC-7, and HCC-8. The plants were grown in a greenhouse for 127 days, under a completely randomized design with four replications each. The results revealed that the yield (g·plant⁻¹) and number of fruits per plant did not show significant differences between genotypes. However, for the fruit length, the genotypes HCC-8, HNC-7, HNC-6, and HNC-5 stood out with over 40 mm, while in equatorial diameter of the fruit, HCC-8, HNC-4, and HNC-2 stood out with 26.45, 26.46, and 25.12 mm, respectively. The results of the chemical analyses allowed us to identify that HNC-5 and HNC-6 had the highest capsaicin concentration (931.38 and 959.77 mg·kg⁻¹), dihydrocapsaicin (434.95 and 445.89 mg·kg⁻¹), Scoville Heat Units greater than 210,000, total phenols (67.54 and 71.15 mg/100 g) and total flavonoids (34.21 and 38.29 mg/100 g), respectively. The HNC-1 and HNC-6 genotypes had the highest carotenoids concentration with 103.96 and 105.07 mg/100 g, and HCC-8 registered the highest anthocyanin content with 22.08 mg C3GE/100 g. The antioxidant capacities showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between genotypes, with a range of 43.22 to 110.39 µmol TE/100 g, 72.37 to 186.56 µmol TE/100 g, and 191.41 to 244.98 µmol TE/100 g for the tests of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power). The results of this research will be used to select habanero pepper genotypes that can be used in genetic improvement programs to increase the productive potential and the content of bioactive compounds in the fruits to expand their applications in the food industry.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were successfully biosynthesized from Larrea tridentata leaf extract. X-ray Dif fraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed that AgNP are crystalline and hemispherical, with sizes between 4 and 26 nm. In addition, the ef fect of nanoparticles on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seed germination and seedling growth was examined. Seeds were pre-soaked with dif ferent concentrations of AgNP (0, 4.03, 6.72, 18.66, 51.84, and 86.4 mg L-1). Up to 90% seed germination was achieved at a concentration of at least 4.03 mg L-1, while the control reached below 60%. The highest vigor was obtained at a concentration of 51.84 mg L-1, 2.67 times higher than the vigor of untreated seeds. The synthesized nanoparticles induced activation of tomato seedlings’ defense system against reactive oxidative species, increasing CAT and APX enzyme activities and seedling’s growth. Plumule and radicle length rose 1.49 and 1.98-fold compared to the control. The seedlings were susceptible at 86.4 mg L-1 of AgNP, which af fected all growth parameters and induced oxidative stress response through increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation and proline content. These provide further insight into the ef fects of biogenic silver nanoparticles on plants during their initial stages of development, demonstrating that these nanoparticles can promote early germination.

Nanotechnology (NT) can modernize agriculture with new tools that allow better nourished and protected crops. Graphene oxide (GO) is a new kind of carbon-based nanomaterial with unique structural and physicochemical properties, which is very useful for many agricultural applications. GO, the two-dimensional carbon nanoparticles, have attracted increasing attention in the last few years because these contain large amounts of functional oxygen groups; therefore, they could be used as a fertilizer carrier to slow the release rate and improve the nutrients use efficiency, which makes this material suitable for developing new slow-release fertilizers. In this study, the application of GO nanoparticles (NPs) and graphite microparticles were compared as potential promoters of tomato seed germination and seedlings growth. Concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, and 500 mg L–1 were applied, using distilled water and micro-size graphite as controls. GO treatments improved root growth dose-dependently by increasing the seed vigor and showing significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between treatments applied, increasing antioxidant enzymes activities. When using the dose of 200 mg L–1 GONPs, the radicle length was stimulated (31%) compared to the control seedlings. The graphite NPs performed better than the control in all variables; however, they were surpassed by the treatments with GONPs.

Sorghum is an economically important crop in developing countries. The objective of this study was to compare the agronomic performance, and the chromatic, nutritional and nutraceutical properties of nineteen sorghum accessions cultivated in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Results showed that the grain yield (15.22 to 70.18 g per plant), days to flowering (73 to 92 days), panicle length (16.63 to 27.67 cm), luminosity (27.14 to 57.75), chromaticity (5.65 to 15.33) and hue angle (38.49 to 82.66) varied. The percentage of protein (7.33 to 3.43%), fiber (0.60 to 3.03%) and carbohydrates (70.17 to 78.39%) also varied. Grains had a high concentration of magnesium, phosphorus and potassium; the content of total phenols and total flavonoids (free + bound) was found in a range of 117.61 to 2367.01 mg GAE/100 g and 22.52 to 613.92 mg CE/100 g, respectively. The antioxidant capacities (free + bound) showed ranges from 65.09 to 2,017.58 μmol TE/100 g, 43.13 to 1,907.99 μmol TE/100 g and 107.20 to 3,523.20 μmol TE/100 g using the ABTS, DPPH and FRAP methods, respectively. A negative correlation (-0.36) was observed between grain yield and days to flowering. In addition, a positive correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. These results confirm an important genetic diversity among the studied accessions of sorghum.