Mitigating Salinity Stress in Solanaceae: The Role of Nanoparticles in Seed Germination and Growth Development

Salinity is a major challenge affecting agricultural productivity in many regions worldwide. Various approaches have been implemented to mitigate its impact and enhance crop production. This study investigates the application of nanoparticles to improve the growth and development of crops from the Solanaceae family, both individually and in combination with salinity stress. The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of salinity and nanoparticles, specifically titanium dioxide (TiO₂NPs), copper oxide (CuONPs), and zinc oxide (ZnONPs) at 750, 1250, and 1500 mg/kg per seed, respectively, on seed germination and growth performance of tomato, eggplant and pepper plants. The results demonstrated that tomato plants grown under salinity conditions exhibited significant improvements in key traits when treated with CuONPs. The lowest number of aborted flowers was observed under the combined application of salinity and TiO₂NPs, which also enhanced seed production and increased the 1000-seed weight. For eggplants, the combination of salinity with CuONPs and ZnONPs positively influenced plant characteristics, with CuONPs applied individually also showing notable effects. In contrast, control plants displayed the lowest values for all measured attributes in both tomatoes and eggplants. For pepper plants, ZnO nanoparticles applied individually were the most effective in improving plant traits. The application of CuONPs significantly reduced the number of aborted flowers and enhanced seed and mean daily germination rates. However, under salinity stress, pepper plants recorded the lowest values for most growth parameters. These findings suggest that the strategic use of nanoparticles under salinity conditions can support sustainable agriculture by enhancing the growth and productivity of vegetable crops, offering valuable solutions for farmers and growers facing salinity challenges.