Comparative effects of zearalenone and nanozeolite on physiological and biochemical traits of Arugula (Eruca sativa) under regulated deficit irrigation

This research examined how zearalenone (ZEN) and nanozeolite (NZ) influence the physiological and biochemical characteristics of arugula under regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) in a controlled greenhouse setting. A split-plot experimental design was implemented, with main plots representing two irrigation levels (100% and 70% of field capacity) and subplots featuring varying concentrations of ZEN (60, and 120 ppb), NZ (1.5, and 3 ppm), and a control group without any additives. The findings indicated that both ZEN and NZ treatments significantly enhanced the plants' resilience to water stress by improving physiological metrics such as maximum photosystem II efficiency, photosynthetic gas exchange, plant water relations, shoot and root fresh weight, proline levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Notably, the NZ treatment at 3 ppm emerged as the most effective, resulting in a 284% increase in net photosynthesis rate, a 200% enhancement in water use efficiency (WUE), a 433% decrease in transpiration rate, and a 119% reduction in electrolyte leakage compared to the control group irrigated at 70% field capacity. Furthermore, the ZEN treatment at 120 ppb also demonstrated a significant improvement in water stress conditions, ranking as the second most effective option after NZ at 3 ppm. This study underscores the potential of these treatments as sustainable methods to boost crop productivity in water-scarce environments.