Effects of SiO2 Nanoparticle Pretreatment on Tomato Growth and Physiological Responses under Reduced-Misting Conditions in an Aeroponic System

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran

10.22034/jgpp.2026.2107537.1125
Abstract
Nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO2-NPs) have been demonstrated as possible modifiers of plant responses to abiotic stress. This study investigated the effects of SiO2-NPs at 0, 50 and 100 mM under normal and water-stress circumstances on the various traits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings cultivated in an aeroponic system. The trial was done in a factorial layout according to completely randomized design. The measured traits were plant height, root length, root characteristics, proline, chlorophyll pigments, relative water content, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, activities of antioxidant enzymes, protein, sodium and potassium. The results indicated that the impacts of SiO2-NPs were variable among traits and water regimes. The 50 mM treatment increased root volume from 13.8 to 15.8 cm3 under water stress. The 100 mM treatment had higher chlorophylls a and b as well as catalase activity and phenolics. The proline content decreased with increasing nanoparticle concentration; however, ascorbate peroxidase activity did not increase under water stress. Relative water content showed numerical increase at 50 mM but decrease at 100 mM as compared to stressed control. The highest shoot dry weight was recorded in the water-stressed untreated control, followed by the 50 and 100 mM SiO₂-NP treatments, while under non-stress conditions, it decreased at both nano-particle treatments compared with the untreated control. The findings indicated that the reaction of tomato seedlings to SiO2-NPs application was concentration-dependent and trait-specific, and not a general improvement of tomato seedling performance.

Keywords


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Volume 3, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 67-76

  • Receive Date 30 September 2026
  • Revise Date 01 November 2026
  • Accept Date 30 November 2026
  • First Publish Date 30 November 2026
  • Publish Date 01 December 2026