{
  "abstract": "Zinc (Zn) deficiency severely limits plant growth and yield, highlighting the need for strategies to improve Zn nutrition. Here, Zn oxide nanoparticles (nZnOs) of two sizes (∼8 nm and ∼45 nm, 100 mg·L-1) were evaluated as seed priming agents in tomato grown under Zn-deficient conditions. Both nanoparticle sizes were internalized into embryonic tissues and showed distinct intracellular localization. While 45 nm nZnO and bulk Zn disturbed seed nutrient homeostasis, 8 nm nZnO increased seed Zn content more efficiently, with milder effects on other nutrients. Across developmental stages, nZnO priming improved Zn supply and nutrient distribution more effectively than bulk Zn. At the vegetative stage, 45 nm nZnO enhanced overall biomass, whereas 8 nm nZnO promoted root-specific growth under Zn deficiency. nZnO priming increased root Zn accumulation, particularly with 8 nm nZnO, and alleviated Zn deficiency-induced nonspecific metal accumulation. Zn deficiency-induced disturbances in redox and nitrosative balance were reversed by nZnO priming, accompanied by reduced RNA nitration and a shift toward a catalase-dominated hydrogen peroxide detoxification system. Both nanoparticle sizes exhibited peroxidase-like activity in cell-free assays, indicating nanozyme potential; however, this activity did not translate directly to the in planta responses. Under Zn deficiency, nZnO priming suppressed stress-related metabolic pathways in leaves, while enhancing amino acid, polyamine, and structural carbohydrate metabolism in roots. Zn deficiency-induced transcriptional repression, particularly in leaves, was partially restored, with affected genes enriched in stress-, phytohormone-, and detoxification-related pathways. Overall, size-dependent nZnO seed priming alleviates Zn deficiency in tomato. 45 nm nZnO mainly enhances biomass through improved nutrient homeostasis and redox regulation, while both sizes contribute to restored Zn availability and antioxidant reprogramming under Zn deficiency.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Plant Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged6726, Hungary.",
    "Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged6726, Hungary.",
    "Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary.",
    "Hungarian Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs7624, Hungary.",
    "Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School University of Pécs, Pécs7624, Hungary.",
    "Budapest Neutron Centre, Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety, HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, Budapest1121, Hungary.",
    "Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest1117, Hungary.",
    "Agricultural Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Martonvásár2462, Hungary.",
    "Institute of Plant Biology, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged6726, Hungary.",
    "Department of Pathology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary.",
    "Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 22,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Selahattin Kondak",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4979-5986"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dóra Kondak"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Tamás Bodor"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Gábor Fejes"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Attila Ördög"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Rónavári",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7054-0975"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Zoltán Kónya",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9406-8596"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Réka Szőllősi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "András Kukri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Attila Gyenesei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Péter Urbán"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "József Kun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Maria Gracheva"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Ádám Solti"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Kinga Benczúr"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Magda Pál",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3468-962X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Gabriella Szalai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Ildikó Domonkos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Titanilla Szögi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9854-7340"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Fernando A Casian Plaza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Gábor Galbács",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1799-5329"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zsuzsanna Kolbert",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7819-4672"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4crzyzpqbm62n.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1021/acs.jafc.6c02493",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13693447",
  "id": "4crzyzpqbm62n",
  "issns": [
    "0021-8561",
    "1520-5118"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904998",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221341961",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13693447?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13693447",
  "pmid": "42904998",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4crzyzpqbm62n.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42904998",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904998"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1110|Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Size-Dependent Zinc Delivery and Nanozyme-Mediated Stress Alleviation by ZnO Nanoparticles in Zinc-Deficient Tomato.",
  "title_text": "Size-Dependent Zinc Delivery and Nanozyme-Mediated Stress Alleviation by ZnO Nanoparticles in Zinc-Deficient Tomato.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4crzyzpqbm62n",
  "venue": "Journal of agricultural and food chemistry",
  "versions": []
}