Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver

This study investigates the impact of copper (Cu) stress on tomato plants (<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>) and explores the potential of chitosan and nanosilver (nAg) in mitigating its effects. Copper, while essential for plant growth, can be toxic at elevated levels, leading to oxidati...

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Main Authors: Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz, Ireneusz Ochmian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2477
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author Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz
Ireneusz Ochmian
author_facet Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz
Ireneusz Ochmian
author_sort Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the impact of copper (Cu) stress on tomato plants (<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>) and explores the potential of chitosan and nanosilver (nAg) in mitigating its effects. Copper, while essential for plant growth, can be toxic at elevated levels, leading to oxidative stress and reduced plant productivity. This research focuses on determining how chitosan and nAg treatments influence plant growth, fruit yield, and biochemical responses under Cu-induced stress. A greenhouse experiment was conducted, where tomato plants were treated with Cu, chitosan, nAg, and their combinations. The results revealed that chitosan improved root growth, and enhanced antioxidant properties, including increased ascorbic acid and lycopene content. Nanosilver treatments, while reducing shoot growth, significantly increased fruit yield and potassium uptake. The combination of Cu with chitosan or nAg provided synergistic benefits, improving plant resilience and fruit quality. Specifically, copper+chitosan (Cu+Ch) increased dry matter and delayed ripening, while Cu+nAg enhanced potassium uptake and overall fruit yield. Additionally, Cu accelerated the ripening of tomatoes. These findings suggest that chitosan and nanosilver are effective strategies to mitigate copper toxicity in tomato plants, offering a sustainable approach to improve crop productivity and quality under heavy metal stress conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-f84f3b9e49724dd2a57bc1cca64b02912024-11-26T17:44:07ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-10-011411247710.3390/agronomy14112477Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and NanosilverMarcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz0Ireneusz Ochmian1Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Słowackiego 17 Street, 71-434 Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Horticulture, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Słowackiego 17 Street, 71-434 Szczecin, PolandThis study investigates the impact of copper (Cu) stress on tomato plants (<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>) and explores the potential of chitosan and nanosilver (nAg) in mitigating its effects. Copper, while essential for plant growth, can be toxic at elevated levels, leading to oxidative stress and reduced plant productivity. This research focuses on determining how chitosan and nAg treatments influence plant growth, fruit yield, and biochemical responses under Cu-induced stress. A greenhouse experiment was conducted, where tomato plants were treated with Cu, chitosan, nAg, and their combinations. The results revealed that chitosan improved root growth, and enhanced antioxidant properties, including increased ascorbic acid and lycopene content. Nanosilver treatments, while reducing shoot growth, significantly increased fruit yield and potassium uptake. The combination of Cu with chitosan or nAg provided synergistic benefits, improving plant resilience and fruit quality. Specifically, copper+chitosan (Cu+Ch) increased dry matter and delayed ripening, while Cu+nAg enhanced potassium uptake and overall fruit yield. Additionally, Cu accelerated the ripening of tomatoes. These findings suggest that chitosan and nanosilver are effective strategies to mitigate copper toxicity in tomato plants, offering a sustainable approach to improve crop productivity and quality under heavy metal stress conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2477copper stress<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>antioxidant propertiesheavy metal toxicityfruit yieldsustainable horticulture
spellingShingle Marcelina Krupa-Małkiewicz
Ireneusz Ochmian
Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
Agronomy
copper stress
<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>
antioxidant properties
heavy metal toxicity
fruit yield
sustainable horticulture
title Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
title_full Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
title_fullStr Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
title_short Sustainable Approaches to Alleviate Heavy Metal Stress in Tomatoes: Exploring the Role of Chitosan and Nanosilver
title_sort sustainable approaches to alleviate heavy metal stress in tomatoes exploring the role of chitosan and nanosilver
topic copper stress
<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i>
antioxidant properties
heavy metal toxicity
fruit yield
sustainable horticulture
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2477
work_keys_str_mv AT marcelinakrupamałkiewicz sustainableapproachestoalleviateheavymetalstressintomatoesexploringtheroleofchitosanandnanosilver
AT ireneuszochmian sustainableapproachestoalleviateheavymetalstressintomatoesexploringtheroleofchitosanandnanosilver