Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and silicon (Si) nanoparticles on growth and production under water stress conditions. The combined application of Ca, K, and Si significantly improved the growth of drought-stressed cucumber plants compared to...

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Main Authors: Mohamed EL-MOGY, Emad A. ABDELDAYM, Suzy M. ABDELAZIZ, Ahmed Mahmoud ISMAIL, Hossam S. EL-BELTAGI, Khaled M.A. RAMADAN, Abdel Wahab M. MAHMOUD, Shady Abdel MOTTALEB
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AcademicPres 2025-06-01
Series:Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Online Access:https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14470
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author Mohamed EL-MOGY
Emad A. ABDELDAYM
Suzy M. ABDELAZIZ
Ahmed Mahmoud ISMAIL
Hossam S. EL-BELTAGI
Khaled M.A. RAMADAN
Abdel Wahab M. MAHMOUD
Shady Abdel MOTTALEB
author_facet Mohamed EL-MOGY
Emad A. ABDELDAYM
Suzy M. ABDELAZIZ
Ahmed Mahmoud ISMAIL
Hossam S. EL-BELTAGI
Khaled M.A. RAMADAN
Abdel Wahab M. MAHMOUD
Shady Abdel MOTTALEB
author_sort Mohamed EL-MOGY
collection DOAJ
description A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and silicon (Si) nanoparticles on growth and production under water stress conditions. The combined application of Ca, K, and Si significantly improved the growth of drought-stressed cucumber plants compared to untreated plants. All nanoparticles similarly enhanced total chlorophyll levels, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic rates, and water use efficiency, as well as the accumulation of indole-acetic acid (IAA) and essential nutrients [magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N)] in the leaves of drought-stressed cucumber plants. The foliar application of combined K, Ca, and Si nanoparticles increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, alleviating drought stress and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, the combined application of Ca, K, and Si nanoparticles resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the use of K, Ca, and Si nanoparticles, either alone or in combination, notably improved total yield and its components, including fruit weight and the number of fruits. Compared to untreated plants, the combined application of Ca, K, and Si nanoparticles also increased carbohydrates, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and total phenol content, while reducing cucurbitacin content.
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spelling doaj-art-dde2d45cd9c4481a8aa524ecb7369b352025-08-20T02:43:50ZengAcademicPresNotulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca0255-965X1842-43092025-06-0153210.15835/nbha53214470Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormonesMohamed EL-MOGY0Emad A. ABDELDAYM1Suzy M. ABDELAZIZ2Ahmed Mahmoud ISMAIL3Hossam S. EL-BELTAGI4Khaled M.A. RAMADAN5Abdel Wahab M. MAHMOUD6Shady Abdel MOTTALEB7King Faisal University, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Al-AhsaCairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Vegetable Crops, Giza 12613Agriculture Research Center, Horticulture Research Institute, Cross Pollinated Vegetable Research DepartmentKing Faisal University, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Al-AhsaKing Faisal University, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Agricultural Biotechnology Department, Al-AhsaKing Faisal University, Central Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Al-Ahsa 31982Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Plant Physiology Division, Giza 12613Cairo University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Plant Physiology Division, Giza 12613 A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and silicon (Si) nanoparticles on growth and production under water stress conditions. The combined application of Ca, K, and Si significantly improved the growth of drought-stressed cucumber plants compared to untreated plants. All nanoparticles similarly enhanced total chlorophyll levels, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic rates, and water use efficiency, as well as the accumulation of indole-acetic acid (IAA) and essential nutrients [magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N)] in the leaves of drought-stressed cucumber plants. The foliar application of combined K, Ca, and Si nanoparticles increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, alleviating drought stress and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, the combined application of Ca, K, and Si nanoparticles resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the use of K, Ca, and Si nanoparticles, either alone or in combination, notably improved total yield and its components, including fruit weight and the number of fruits. Compared to untreated plants, the combined application of Ca, K, and Si nanoparticles also increased carbohydrates, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and total phenol content, while reducing cucurbitacin content. https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14470Cucumis sativusnano-element applicationagro-physiological propertiesenzymatic antioxidantswater stress yield
spellingShingle Mohamed EL-MOGY
Emad A. ABDELDAYM
Suzy M. ABDELAZIZ
Ahmed Mahmoud ISMAIL
Hossam S. EL-BELTAGI
Khaled M.A. RAMADAN
Abdel Wahab M. MAHMOUD
Shady Abdel MOTTALEB
Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
Cucumis sativus
nano-element application
agro-physiological properties
enzymatic antioxidants
water stress
yield
title Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
title_full Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
title_fullStr Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
title_full_unstemmed Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
title_short Foliar application of calcium, silicon, and potassium nanoparticles improves growth, and fruit quality of drought-stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, photosynthesis efficiency, and phytohormones
title_sort foliar application of calcium silicon and potassium nanoparticles improves growth and fruit quality of drought stressed cucumber plants through modulation of osmolytes antioxidant enzymes photosynthesis efficiency and phytohormones
topic Cucumis sativus
nano-element application
agro-physiological properties
enzymatic antioxidants
water stress
yield
url https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/14470
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