ABSTRACT
The nutritional components of cantaloupe, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, contribute to overall health, improved immunity, hydration, and protection against chronic diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of different concentrations (0 (control), 100, 150, and 200 ppm) of 1-naphthalene acetic acid (1-NAA) on the nutritional components of the cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. Var. Super White Honey). All the studied treatments were applied twice at the 2nd and 4th leaf stages. The applied concentrations of 1-NAA significantly improved the sex expression and fruit yield attributes. Different nutritional components like proximate contents, minerals, vitamins, selected fatty acids, and amino acids were analyzed. The results showed that the maximum moisture content, proteins, carbohydrates, ash, and energy were recorded with 100 ppm. The higher lipids were recorded during the supplementation of 150 ppm. Significantly greater fibers were recorded using 200 ppm. Regarding minerals, 100 ppm was found to be the best as it increased calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorous (P), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). Vitamins were also found to be the maximum with 100 ppm, including vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Total selected fatty acids and amino acids were also found significantly greater in the fruits administered 100 ppm.
ABSTRACT
In the current scenario, the rising concentration of heavy metals (HMs) due to anthropogenic activities is a severe problem. Plants are very much affected by HM pollution as well as other abiotic stress such as salinity and drought. It is very important to fulfil the nutritional demands of an ever-growing population in these adverse environmental conditions and/or stresses. Remediation of HM in contaminated soil is executed through physical and chemical processes which are costly, time-consuming, and non-sustainable. The application of nanobionics in crop resilience with enhanced stress tolerance may be the safe and sustainable strategy to increase crop yield. Thus, this review emphasizes the impact of nanobionics on the physiological traits and growth indices of plants. Major concerns and stress tolerance associated with the use of nanobionics are also deliberated concisely. The nanobionic approach to plant physiological traits and stress tolerance would lead to an epoch of plant research at the frontier of nanotechnology and plant biology.