Size-Dependent Zinc Delivery and Nanozyme-Mediated Stress Alleviation by ZnO Nanoparticles in Zinc-Deficient Tomato.
11 affiliations
- 1Department of Plant Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged6726, Hungary.
- 2Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged6726, Hungary.
- 3Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary.
- 4Hungarian Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs7624, Hungary.
- 5Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School University of Pécs, Pécs7624, Hungary.
- 6Budapest Neutron Centre, Institute for Energy Security and Environmental Safety, HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, Budapest1121, Hungary.
- 7Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest1117, Hungary.
- 8Agricultural Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Martonvásár2462, Hungary.
- 9Institute of Plant Biology, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged6726, Hungary.
- 10Department of Pathology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary.
- 11Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged6720, Hungary.
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.
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BibTeX
@article{kondak2026sizedependent,
title = {{Size-Dependent Zinc Delivery and Nanozyme-Mediated Stress Alleviation by ZnO Nanoparticles in Zinc-Deficient Tomato.}},
author = {Selahattin Kondak and Dóra Kondak and Tamás Bodor and Gábor Fejes and Attila Ördög and Andrea Rónavári and Zoltán Kónya and Réka Szőllősi and András Kukri and Attila Gyenesei and Péter Urbán and József Kun and Maria Gracheva and Ádám Solti and Kinga Benczúr and Magda Pál and Gabriella Szalai and Ildikó Domonkos and Titanilla Szögi and Fernando A Casian Plaza and Gábor Galbács and Zsuzsanna Kolbert},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6c02493},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904998},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Size-Dependent Zinc Delivery and Nanozyme-Mediated Stress Alleviation by ZnO Nanoparticles in Zinc-Deficient Tomato.
AU - Selahattin Kondak
AU - Dóra Kondak
AU - Tamás Bodor
AU - Gábor Fejes
AU - Attila Ördög
AU - Andrea Rónavári
AU - Zoltán Kónya
AU - Réka Szőllősi
AU - András Kukri
AU - Attila Gyenesei
AU - Péter Urbán
AU - József Kun
AU - Maria Gracheva
AU - Ádám Solti
AU - Kinga Benczúr
AU - Magda Pál
AU - Gabriella Szalai
AU - Ildikó Domonkos
AU - Titanilla Szögi
AU - Fernando A Casian Plaza
AU - Gábor Galbács
AU - Zsuzsanna Kolbert
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
DO - 10.1021/acs.jafc.6c02493
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904998
AB - 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.
SN - 0021-8561
SN - 1520-5118
ER -