Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Impact of titanium dioxide on growth, yield and biochemical parameters of three eggplant genotypes under heat stress conditions

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.10021
Submitted
12 June 2025
Published
27-11-2025

Abstract

The present research evaluated the effect of foliar application of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on growth, yield and physiological parameters of three eggplant genotypes under various heat stress conditions. The experiments were conducted during the 2024 growing season. The treatments for stress conditions included in the horizontal factor, C0: open-field conditions or control, C1: green saran cover and C2: non-woven fabric cover. Three eggplant genotypes, viz. G1: Black Beauty variety, G2: Raheeb F1 hybrid and G3: Aswad F1 hybrid, in each treatment were subjected to three titanium concentrations, i.e. 0, 100 and 200 mg L-1. Research findings revealed that the plants grown under condition (C2) showed the maximum average plant height, dry weight, fruit weight and total yield but minimum average leaf proline, leaf POD and leaf SOD  as compared to control plants. The plants grown under control condition (C0) showed minimum average of plant height, dry weight, fruit weight and total yield. Maximum average of leaf proline, leaf POD and leaf SOD were noted in control plants. Of all the three genotypes, G1 exhibited an increase in the plant height, dry weight, total yield and leaf SOD. A significant improvement in plant height, dry weight, leaf antioxidants such as proline and activities of POD and SOD in leaves was noted in plants exposed to Ti concentration at 200 mg L-1. While enhanced fruit weight and total yield were noted in plants exposed to Ti at 100 mg L-1. Further study is required on Ti’s long-term impacts and optimal doses across various environments. 

References

  1. 1. Khalil MAI. Vegetable physiology. 1st ed. The Knowledge Facility in Alexandria, Arab Republic of Egypt; 2013.
  2. 2. Kandoliya UK, Bajaniya VK, Bhadja NK, Bodar NP, Golakiya BA. Antioxidant and nutritional components of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit grown in Saurastra region. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2015;4(2):806-13.
  3. 3. Okmen B, Sigva HO, Mutlu S, Doganlar S, Yemenicioglu A, Frary A. Total antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents in different Turkish eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars. Int J Food Prop. 2009;12(3):616-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942910801992942
  4. 4. Gramazio P, Prohens J, Plazas M, Andújar I, Herraiz FJ, Castillo E, et al. Location of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis pathway and polyphenol oxidase genes in a new interspecific anchored linkage map of eggplant. BMC Plant Biol. 2014;14(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-014-0350-z
  5. 5. Gurbuz N, Uluisik S, Frary A, Frary A, Doganlar S. Health benefits and bioactive compounds of eggplant. Food Chem. 2018;268:602-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.06.093
  6. 6. Atul Kumar AK, Dahiya MS, Bhutani RD. Performance of brinjal genotypes in different environments of spring-summer season. Haryana J Hort Sci. 2000;29(1/2):82-3.
  7. 7. Athafa QJ. Effect of ascorbic acid foliar application and chelated iron on growth and yield of two eggplant hybrids (Solanum melongena L.). Diyala Agric Sci J. 2018;10(1):73-80.
  8. 8. Rao SM, Raghavendra R, Reddy SJ. Physiology and molecular biology of stress tolerance in plants. Netherlands: Springer; 2006.
  9. 9. Kumar V, Sharma M, Khare T, Wani SH. Impact of nanoparticles on oxidative stress and responsive antioxidative defense in plants. In: Nanomaterials in plants, algae and microorganisms. Academic Press; 2018. p. 393-406. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811487-2.00017-7
  10. 10. Thakur S, Asthir B, Kaur G, Kalia A, Sharma A. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles influence heat stress tolerance mediated by antioxidant defense system in wheat. Cereal Res Commun. 2022;50:385-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-021-00190-w
  11. 11. Shahak Y, Gussakovsky EE, Gal E, Ganelevin R. ColorNets: Crop protection and light-quality manipulation in one technology. Acta Hortic. 2004;(659):143-51. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.659.17
  12. 12. Masabni J, Sun G, Niu G, Del Valle P. Shade effect on growth and productivity of tomato and chili pepper. Hort Technol. 2016;26(3):344-50. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.26.3.344
  13. 13. Gómez-Merino FC, Trejo-Téllez LI. The role of beneficial elements in triggering adaptive responses to environmental stressors and improving plant performance. In: Vats S, editor. Biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Singapore: Springer; 2018. p. 137-72 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-9029-5_6
  14. 14. Bacilieri FS, Pereira de Vasconcelos AC, Quintao Lana RM, Mageste JG, Torres JL. Titanium (Ti) in plant nutrition-A review. Aust J Crop Sci. 2017;11(4):382-6. https://doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.17.11.04.pne202
  15. 15. Kleiber T. Effect of titanium application on lettuce growth under Mn stress. J Elem. 2017;22(1):329-37.
  16. 16. Lyu S, Wei X, Chen J, Wang C, Wang X, Pan D. Titanium as a beneficial element for crop production. Front Plant Sci. 2017;8:597. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00597
  17. 17. Haghighi M, Daneshmand B. Beneficial effect of titanium on plant growth, photosynthesis and nutrient trait of tomato cv. Foria. Iran Agric Res. 2018;37(1):83-8.
  18. 18. Al-Bayati AS, Turk HAM, Al-Tufaili AKH, Aboohanah MA, Mohan RK, Qader HM. Characterization of green onion with NPK fertilization and foliar application of hornwort extract. Sabrao J Breed Genet. 2023;55(6):2140-8. https://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2023.55.6.25
  19. 19. Hocking PJ, Randall PJ, Demarco D, Bamforth I. Assessment of the nitrogen status of field-grown canola (Brassica napus L.) by plant analysis. Aust J Exp Agric. 1997;37(1):83-92. https://doi.org/10.1071/EA95068
  20. 20. Goodwin TW. Chemistry and biochemistry of plant pigment. 2nd ed. Academic Press; 1976. p. 373
  21. 21. Bates LS, Waldren RP, Teare ID. Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant Sci. 1973;39:205-07. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018060
  22. 22. Salman AD. Growth variables and quantitative and qualitative yield of cherry tomato plants Agrosol and Enraizal sprayed under exposed cultivation conditions and plastic house. Masters [thesis]. Baghdad University; 2014
  23. 23. Beyer WF Jr, Fridovich I. Assaying for superoxide dismutase activity: some large consequences of minor changes in conditions. Anal Biochem. 1987;161(2):559-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(87)90489-1
  24. 24. Pitotti A, Elizalde BE, Anese M. Effect of caramelization and Maillard reaction products on peroxidase activity. J Food Biochem. 1994;18(6):445-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-4514.1994.tb00515.x
  25. 25. Jackson ML. Soil chemical analysis. Englewood Cliffs (NJ): Prentice Hall; 1958.
  26. 26. Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR. Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: chemical and microbiological properties. Madison (WI): American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America; 1982. p. 539-79. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed
  27. 27. Analytical Software. Statistix 10: user's manual. Tallahassee (FL); 2013.
  28. 28. Lobell DB, Asner GP. Climate and management contributions to recent trends in U.S. agricultural yields. Science. 2003;299(5609):1032. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1078475
  29. 29. Efeoglu B, Terzioglu S. Photosynthetic responses of two wheat varieties to high temperature. Eurasia J Biosci. 2009;3:97-106. https://doi.org/10.5053/ejobios.2009.3.0.13
  30. 30. Asada K. Production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts and their functions. Plant Physiol. 2006;141:391-6. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.106.082040
  31. 31. Hasanuzzaman M, Nahar K, Alam MM, Roychowdhury R, Fujita M. Physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of heat stress tolerance in plants. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14(5):9643-84. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms14059643
  32. 32. Aied KY, Zaidan GJ, Abdulrahman HB. Using plastic house shading in the summer improves eggplant and sweet pepper yield. Pesqui Agropecu Trop. 2023;53:e74478. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632023v5374478
  33. 33. Burhan AK, Al-Taey DK. Effect of potassium humate, humic acid and compost of rice wastes in the growth and yield of two cultivars of dill under salt stress conditions. Adv Nat Appl Sci. 2018;12(11):1-6.
  34. 34. Mukhtar FA. Gardening and plant breeding. Baghdad: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; 1988. p. 232
  35. 35. Al-Zubaidi AHA. Effect of foliar sprays (basfoliar kelp and fylloton) on growth of varieties Solanum melongena L. and yield. Babylon Univ J Pure Appl Sci. 2018;26(1):276-89.
  36. 36. Sarmiento C, Daood H, Pais I, Biacs PA. Effect of titanium ascorbate on the lipoxygenase pathway of tomato and red pepper seedlings. J Plant Nutr. 1995;18(6):1291-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904169509364980
  37. 37. Hrubý M, Cigler P, Kuzel S. Contribution to understanding the mechanism of titanium action in plant. J Plant Nutr. 2002;25(3):577-98. https://doi.org/10.1081/PLN-120003383
  38. 38. Alcaraz CF, Sánchez MF, Giménez JL. Ascorbato de titanio, fertilizante foliar. Agric Rev Agropecu. 1991;708:636-8.
  39. 39. Navarro E, Baun A, Behra R, Hartmann NB, Filser J, Miao A, et al. Environmental behaviour and ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles to algae, plants and fungi. Ecotoxicology. 2008;17:372-86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0214-0
  40. 40. Carvajal M, Martínez-Sánchez F, Alcaraz CF. Effect of Ti (IV) on some indicators of physiological activity in Capsicum annuum L. J Hortic Sci. 1994;69(3):427-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.1994.11516471
  41. 41. Choi HG, Moon BY, Bekhzod K, Park KS, Kwon JK, Lee JH, et al. Effects of foliar fertilization containing titanium dioxide on growth, yield and quality of strawberries during cultivation. Hortic Environ Biotechnol. 2015;56:575-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-015-0023-3
  42. 42. Lopez-Moreno JL, Giménez JL, Moreno A, Fuentes JL, Alcaraz CF. Plant biomass and fruit yield induction by Ti (IV) in P-stressed pepper crops. Fert Res. 1995;43:131-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00747692
  43. 43. Kleiber T, Markiewicz B. Application of "Tytanit" in greenhouse tomato growing. Acta Sci Pol Hortorum Cultus. 2013;12(3):117-26.
  44. 44. Burke DJ, Pietrasiak N, Situ SF, Abenojar EC, Porche M, Kraj P, et al. Iron oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles affect plant performance and root-associated microbes. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(10):23630-50. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161023630

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.