Foliar application of nano-molybdenum modulates photosynthetic and antioxidant characteristics as well as improves yield and fruit quality in strawberry

IF 4.6 2区农林科学 Q1 HORTICULTURE

Scientia Horticulturae Pub Date : 2026-10-01 Epub Date: 2026-10-24 DOI:10.1016/j.scienta.2026.115267

Haifang Dai, Zenan Liu, Qihang Zhang, Ji Yao, Ruoyi Fu, Shuaichao Zheng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The productivity and fruit quality of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) are closely linked to leaf photosynthesis, redox homeostasis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Developing efficient micronutrient-management strategies to improve these processes is important for sustainable strawberry production. However, it remains unclear how the physiological response of strawberries to foliar spraying with nano-molybdenum (nano-Mo) varies across growth stages. In this study, strawberry plants at the five-leaf stage received a single foliar application of nano-Mo at 0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 mg L⁻¹. Plant physiological responses were monitored across eight developmental stages, and fruit yield and quality were evaluated at maturity. Among the treatments, 0.50 mg L⁻¹ nano-Mo (Mo3) produced the most favorable overall response. Compared with the control, Mo3 increased the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) by 9.9–29.8% during main developmental stages. This response was accompanied by increased stomatal conductance (G_s), improved maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), enhanced Rubisco activity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, indicating coordinated changes in stomatal and non-stomatal components of photosynthesis. Mo3 treatment was also associated with the activities of key enzymes in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, including monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and ascorbate oxidase (AAO), together with lower H₂O₂ accumulation. In addition, increased activities of pyruvate kinase and acid invertase coincided with enhanced sugar accumulation and improved fruit quality. Compared to the control, the Mo3 treatment increased yield per plant by 23.8%, single fruit weight by 36.7%, and marketable fruit rate by 14.7%. It also improved the sugar-to-acid ratio and increased phenolics and anthocyanins contents. Overall, a single foliar application of nano-Mo at appropriate concentration was associated with improved strawberry productivity and fruit quality by improved photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, and sugar metabolism. These findings provide evidence for the potential use of nano-enabled micronutrient management in high-value horticultural production. However, further studies comparing nano-Mo with conventional Mo fertilizers at equivalent Mo doses are required to distinguish nano-specific effects from general Mo nutritional effects.

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叶面施用纳米钼调控草莓的光合和抗氧化特性，提高产量和果实品质

草莓（Fragaria × ananassa Duch.）的产量和果实品质与叶片光合作用、氧化还原稳态和碳水化合物代谢密切相关。制定有效的微量营养素管理战略来改进这些过程对于可持续草莓生产非常重要。然而，目前尚不清楚草莓在不同生长阶段对叶面喷施纳米钼（nano-Mo）的生理反应是如何变化的。在这项研究中，五叶期的草莓植株在单叶上施用纳米钼，剂量分别为0、0.10、0.25、0.50、0.75或1.00 mg L⁻¹。在8个发育阶段监测植物的生理反应，并在成熟时评估果实产量和品质。在这些治疗中，0.50 mg L - 1纳米mo （Mo3）产生了最有利的总体反应。与对照相比，Mo3在主要发育阶段的净光合速率（Pn）提高了9.9 ~ 29.8%。这种响应伴随着气孔导度（Gs）的增加、PSII最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）的提高、Rubisco活性的增强和丙二醛（MDA）积累的减少，表明光合作用的气孔和非气孔组分发生了协调变化。Mo3处理还与抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中关键酶的活性有关，包括单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（MDHAR）、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（DHAR）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和抗坏血酸氧化酶（AAO），以及较低的H₂O₂积累。此外，丙酮酸激酶和酸转化酶活性的增加与糖积累的增加和果实品质的改善相一致。与对照相比，Mo3处理单株产量提高23.8%，单果重提高36.7%，售果率提高14.7%。它还改善了糖酸比，增加了酚类物质和花青素含量。总体而言，单叶面施用适当浓度的纳米钼可以通过改善光合作用、抗氧化能力和糖代谢来提高草莓的产量和果实质量。这些发现为纳米微营养素管理在高价值园艺生产中的潜在应用提供了证据。然而，需要进一步研究纳米Mo与常规Mo肥料在相同Mo剂量下的比较，以区分纳米Mo的特异性效应与一般Mo的营养效应。

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来源期刊

Scientia Horticulturae 农林科学-园艺

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

4.70%

发文量

796

审稿时长

47 days

期刊介绍： Scientia Horticulturae is an international journal publishing research related to horticultural crops. Articles in the journal deal with open or protected production of vegetables, fruits, edible fungi and ornamentals under temperate, subtropical and tropical conditions. Papers in related areas (biochemistry, micropropagation, soil science, plant breeding, plant physiology, phytopathology, etc.) are considered, if they contain information of direct significance to horticulture. Papers on the technical aspects of horticulture (engineering, crop processing, storage, transport etc.) are accepted for publication only if they relate directly to the living product. In the case of plantation crops, those yielding a product that may be used fresh (e.g. tropical vegetables, citrus, bananas, and other fruits) will be considered, while those papers describing the processing of the product (e.g. rubber, tobacco, and quinine) will not. The scope of the journal includes all horticultural crops but does not include speciality crops such as, medicinal crops or forestry crops, such as bamboo. Basic molecular studies without any direct application in horticulture will not be considered for this journal.