Grafting favors the presence of bioactive compounds in the bell pepper, but many species and varieties have not yet been analyzed in this sense, including commonly grafted varieties. The aim of the present study is to characterize the content in β-carotenes, vitamin C, lycopene, total phenols, and the antioxidant activity of bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) using the cultivar/rootstock combinations: Jeanette/Terrano (yellow), Sweet/Robusto (green), Fascinato/Robusto (red), Orangela/Terrano (orange), and Fascinato/Terrano (red). The plants were grown in a net-shading system and harvested on three sampling dates of the same crop cycle. The results show statistical differences (p ≤ 0.05) between cultivar/rootstock combinations and sampling dates for the content in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Fascinato/Robusto presented the highest concentration of lycopene and total phenols as well as the greatest antioxidant activity of all cultivar/rootstock combinations evaluated. In addition, it was found that the best sampling time for the peppers to have the highest concentrations of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity was September.

The grafting of fruits and vegetables influences fruit quality. The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of the rootstock and the scion on the antioxidant activity and the content in vitamin C, total phenols, lycopene and β-carotene of bell pepper. The cultivars Fascinato and Jeanette were used as scion and Terrano was used as rootstock. Four harvests in the production cycle of the vegetable were analyzed in a cultivation system under shading nets. The results indicate statistical differences in the content of these bioactive compounds between the varieties, between grafting and not grafting and between sampling dates (p ≤ 0.05). The vitamin C content, β-carotene, and antioxidant capacity proved significantly higher in Fascinato than in Janette. On average, grafting increased β-carotene and vitamin C concentrations and improved the antioxidant capacity, but had no influence on the total phenol or lycopene contents. It is concluded that grafting to the rootstock Terrano improves the nutritional quality of the fruit produced in both varieties of bell pepper studied.

The introduction of nanofertilizers (Nfs) in agriculture has allowed the development of new technologies that enhance the productivity of crops. Within the most studied Nfs we find metal oxides, especially ZnO; however, the results of various experiments provide contradictory data on the growth variables. Therefore, this study intended to evaluate the efficiency associated with the use of nanoparticles, sulfates, and zinc-chelates in Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Strike grown in acid soil, as well as to evaluate its production, total biomass, and nitrogen assimilation. Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Strike plants were sprouted and grown in polyethylene bags containing 3 kg of acid soil (pH 6.8) in an experimental greenhouse and were watered with a nutritious solution. A completely randomized design including ten treatments and five repetitions was used. Treatments consisted of applying different zinc sources (sulfate, DTPA chelate, and zinc oxide nanoparticles) to four different doses (0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm of zinc). Results obtained indicated that the doses best favoring an increase in biomass, production, and nitrogen assimilation were 50 ppm of ZnSO₄, 100 ppm of DTPA-Zn, and 25 ppm of zinc oxide nanofertilizers (NfsOZn). Hence, the dose containing 25 ppm of NfsOZn was the most efficient dose, since at a lower dose it was able to equalize biomass accumulation, production, and nitrogen assimilation as compared to ZnSO₄ and DTPA-Zn sources. However, further research is required, given that high-concentration doses were toxic for beans. Finally, it is worth highlighting that zinc oxide nanoparticles have a huge potential to be used as nanofertilizers if applied in optimal concentrations.

The increase in the cost of fertilizers and their low efficiency has led, through nanotechnology, to the generation of new innovative products that are sustainable and improve the productivity of crops. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a molybdenum nanofertilizer compared to two conventional fertilizers (chelate and sodium molybdate) applied via foliar combined with soil fertilization of NH₄NO₃ in relation to the Nitrogen Use Efficiency, growth and yield in green bean cv. Strike. Green bean plants cv. Strike were cultivated under controlled conditions in an experimental greenhouse and irrigated with nutrient solution. The treatments consisted of the foliar application of three Mo sources (Nano fertilizer, Mo Chelate and Sodium Molybdate) in four doses 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm Mo, complemented with the edaphic application of four doses of NH₄NO₃ (0, 3, 6 and 12 mM of N). The results obtained indicate that the highest accumulation of biomass and yield were obtained with the application of NanoMo, with increases in biomass of 24.31% and 36.47% more in yield with respect to Chelate and Molybdate. Finally, it is concluded that the application of NanoMo improves the assimilation and efficiency of nitrogen use, reducing excessive applications of nitrogenous fertilizers without affecting the yield of the green bean crop.

Drought stress is one of the main factors limiting seed germination and seedling establishment in field crops such as jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Nanopriming, a seed improvement technique using nanoparticle suspensions, has emerged as a sustainable approach to improving water use efficiency during the early stages of development. This study evaluated the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO, 100 mg·L⁻¹), silicon dioxide (SiO₂, 10 mg·L⁻¹), and their combination (ZnO + SiO₂), stabilized with chitosan, on the germination yield and drought tolerance of jalapeño seeds under mannitol-induced water stress (0%, 15%, and 30%). Compared to the hydroprimed control (T1), nanoparticle treatments consistently improved seed yield. Priming with ZnO (T2) increased the germination percentage by up to 25%, priming with SiO₂ (T3) improved the germination rate by 34%, and the combined treatment (T4: ZnO + SiO₂) improved the fresh weight of the seedlings by 40%. Proline accumulation increased 7.5 times, antioxidant capacity (DPPH) increased 6.5 times, and total phenol content increased 4.8 times in the combined treatment. Flavonoid levels also showed notable increases, suggesting enhanced antioxidant defense. These results clearly demonstrate the superior efficacy of nanoparticle pretreatment compared to conventional hydraulic pretreatment, especially under drought conditions. Multivariate analysis further highlighted the synergistic role of ZnO and SiO₂ in improving osmolite accumulation, antioxidant activity, and water use efficiency. Nanopriming with ZnO and SiO₂ offers a promising, economical, and scalable strategy to improve germination, early growth, and drought resistance in jalapeño pepper cultivation under semi-arid conditions.

This research describes the characterization of bioactive compounds, mineral content, and antioxidant capacity in bean varieties grown in semi-arid conditions in Zacatecas, Mexico. This will provide better progress perspectives for agriculture nationwide and will ensure that bean crops are in the condition to satisfy the population’s nutritional needs by placing it not only as one of the foodstuffs comprising Mexico’s basic diet but also as one of the legumes having greater biofortification potential in Mexico. Eleven bean varieties were collected (flor de mayo, bayo, frijola, patola, navy beans, flor de junio, reata beans, Japanese beans, black beans, canary beans, and pinto Saltillo). The evaluation done included the physical and physico-chemical characteristics, as well as the mineral content, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of these bean varieties. Data gathered were subject to a variance and mean separation analysis. The most remarkable individual results were as follows: Canary beans had the highest iron content (105.29 mg/kg), while bayo beans had the highest zinc concentration (48.18 mg/kg) and reata beans had the highest level of protein (26.88%). The varieties showing the most remarkable results with regard to zinc, iron and protein content and antioxidant capacity were as follows: Flor de junio, flor de mayo, reata beans, navy beans and pinto Saltillo; however, the most remarkable variety in comprehensive terms was flor de junio, which showed a reducing power of 0.20%, an antioxidant capacity of 80.62% inhibition, a protein content of 0.17%, in addition to Ca (0.24%), Fe (90.97 mg/kg), Zn (27.23 mg/kg), fiber (3.22%), energy (353.50 kcal), phenols (94.82 mg gallic acid (GA)/g extract) and flavonoids (1.30 mg mg Cat/g⁻¹ dw). Finally, we came to the conclusion that beans grown in Zacatecas, Mexico, offer a huge benefit to consumers as a result of the mineral, protein, fiber, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity contributions such beans provide. Thus, these beans can be used in a biofortification program using micronutrients to improve their nutritional quality.