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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Nano-enabled enhancement of reproductive efficiency and metabolic signaling in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) under in vitro conditions

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.15410
Submitted
5 May 2026
Published
07-08-2026
Versions

Abstract

This study investigated the comparative effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), silver nitrate (AgNO₃), salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on in vitro reproductive development of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) under controlled conditions. Murashige and Skoog (MS) media were supplemented with each treatment at 0, 10, 20 and 30 mg L-1 concentrations and explants were cultured under uniform photoperiod and temperature. An integrative statistical framework comprising analysis of variance (ANOVA), canonical correlation analysis (CCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap visualisation was employed to interpret morphogenic, reproductive and physiological responses. Among all treatments, ZnO-NPs at 20 mg L-1 exhibited superior bioefficacy, significantly enhancing shoot elongation (5.5 cm, p <  0.05), pollen viability (92 %), stomatal conductance (0.38 mol H₂O m-2 s-1) and photosystem II(PSII) efficiency (Fv/Fm = 0.84), while reducing flower abortion (5.2 %) and shedding (12.5 %). Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD = 15.2, CAT = 10.4, POD = 18.3 U g-1 fresh weight (FW)) increased significantly, correlating with reduced lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA) = 4.2 nmol g-1 FW). Multivariate analyses distinctly separated ZnO-NP from other treatments, confirming its integrative regulatory influence. These results highlight the potential of ZnO-NPs as an effective nanoelicitor for improving reproductive physiology and antioxidative balance in broccoli under controlled in vitro conditions.

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