Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations
Abstract This study investigated the effects of zearalenone (ZEN) and nanozeolite (NZ) on arugula (Eruca sativa) under deficit irrigation in a controlled greenhouse environment. Using a split-plot design, two irrigation levels (100% and 70% field capacity: FC) were applied, along with ZEN (60 and 12...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14765-8 |
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| author | Najmeh Zeinalipour Fatemeh Galehdari Safoora Saadati Mohammad Javad Arvin Mehdi Sarcheshmehpour |
| author_facet | Najmeh Zeinalipour Fatemeh Galehdari Safoora Saadati Mohammad Javad Arvin Mehdi Sarcheshmehpour |
| author_sort | Najmeh Zeinalipour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigated the effects of zearalenone (ZEN) and nanozeolite (NZ) on arugula (Eruca sativa) under deficit irrigation in a controlled greenhouse environment. Using a split-plot design, two irrigation levels (100% and 70% field capacity: FC) were applied, along with ZEN (60 and 120 ppb), NZ (1.5 and 3 ppm), and a control with no additives. Both ZEN and NZ significantly enhanced arugula’s drought tolerance by improving photosynthetic efficiency, water use efficiency (WUE), plant water status, growth, proline accumulation, and antioxidant activity. Notably, NZ at 3 ppm was most effective, increasing net photosynthesis by 2.84-fold, WUE by 2-fold, and reducing transpiration by 4.33-fold and electrolyte leakage by 1.19-fold under 70% FC compared to the control. NZ at this concentration also improved chlorophyll fluorescence, raising Fv/Fm by 52% (up to 0.8) and lowering non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) to 0.33, indicating enhanced photosystem II efficiency and reduced photoprotective demand. ZEN at 120 ppb also improved drought resilience by increasing Fv/Fm, reducing NPQ, enhancing chlorophyll content, maintaining higher relative water content and osmotic potential, increasing leaf area and shoot fresh weight, and boosting proline accumulation, though its effects were generally less pronounced than those of NZ. These findings suggest ZEN and NZ as promising amendments for improving arugula’s resilience to water stress in controlled environments, with potential applications in water-scarce agricultural systems pending field validation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8d9d79f70b5459b9e64a26e85ae4ed5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8d9d79f70b5459b9e64a26e85ae4ed52025-08-20T04:01:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-14765-8Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relationsNajmeh Zeinalipour0Fatemeh Galehdari1Safoora Saadati2Mohammad Javad Arvin3Mehdi Sarcheshmehpour4Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanDepartment of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of KermanAbstract This study investigated the effects of zearalenone (ZEN) and nanozeolite (NZ) on arugula (Eruca sativa) under deficit irrigation in a controlled greenhouse environment. Using a split-plot design, two irrigation levels (100% and 70% field capacity: FC) were applied, along with ZEN (60 and 120 ppb), NZ (1.5 and 3 ppm), and a control with no additives. Both ZEN and NZ significantly enhanced arugula’s drought tolerance by improving photosynthetic efficiency, water use efficiency (WUE), plant water status, growth, proline accumulation, and antioxidant activity. Notably, NZ at 3 ppm was most effective, increasing net photosynthesis by 2.84-fold, WUE by 2-fold, and reducing transpiration by 4.33-fold and electrolyte leakage by 1.19-fold under 70% FC compared to the control. NZ at this concentration also improved chlorophyll fluorescence, raising Fv/Fm by 52% (up to 0.8) and lowering non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) to 0.33, indicating enhanced photosystem II efficiency and reduced photoprotective demand. ZEN at 120 ppb also improved drought resilience by increasing Fv/Fm, reducing NPQ, enhancing chlorophyll content, maintaining higher relative water content and osmotic potential, increasing leaf area and shoot fresh weight, and boosting proline accumulation, though its effects were generally less pronounced than those of NZ. These findings suggest ZEN and NZ as promising amendments for improving arugula’s resilience to water stress in controlled environments, with potential applications in water-scarce agricultural systems pending field validation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14765-8ArugulaNet assimilation rateDroughtProlineOsmotic potential |
| spellingShingle | Najmeh Zeinalipour Fatemeh Galehdari Safoora Saadati Mohammad Javad Arvin Mehdi Sarcheshmehpour Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations Scientific Reports Arugula Net assimilation rate Drought Proline Osmotic potential |
| title | Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| title_full | Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| title_fullStr | Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| title_short | Zearalenone and nanozeolite improve Arugula (Eruca sativa) drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| title_sort | zearalenone and nanozeolite improve arugula eruca sativa drought tolerance by enhancing photosynthesis and water relations |
| topic | Arugula Net assimilation rate Drought Proline Osmotic potential |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14765-8 |
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