Seed priming uses treatments to improve seed germination and thus potentially increase growth and yield. Low-cost, environmentally friendly, effective seed treatment remain to be optimized and tested for high-value specialty crop like watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in multi-locations. this remains a particularly acute problem for triploids, which produce desirable seedless watermelons, but show low germination rates. in the present study, turmeric oil nanoemulsions (tne) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from agro-industrial byproducts were used as nanopriming agents for diploid (Riverside) and triploid (Maxima) watermelon seeds. Internalization of nanomaterials was confirmed by neutron activation analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and gas chromatographymass spectrometry. The seedling emergence rate at 14 days after sowing was significantly higher in Agnp-treated triploid seeds compared to other treatments. Soluble sugar (glucose and fructose) contents were enhanced during germination in the AgNP-treated seeds at 96 h. Seedlings grown in the greenhouse were transplanted at four locations in texas: edinburg, pecos, Grapeland, and Snook in 2017. At Snook, higher yield 31.6% and 35.6% compared to control were observed in AgNPtreated Riverside and Maxima watermelons, respectively. To validate the first-year results, treated and untreated seeds of both cultivars were sown in Weslaco, Texas in 2018. While seed emegence and stand establishments were enhanced by seed priming, total phenolics radical-scavenging activities, and macro-and microelements in the watermelon fruits were not significantly different from the control. the results of the present study demonstracted that seed priming with Agnps can enhance seed germination, growth, and yield while maintaining fruit quality through an eco-friendly and sustainable nanotechnological approach.Rapid and uniform seed germination is important for adequate crop establishment to ensure economic sustainability and efficient use of production resources in commercial agriculture 1 . This situation is particularly evident in high-value specialty crops such as watermelons where demand and production of seedless (triploid) varieties has become very popular compared to traditional seeded (diploid) varieties 2 . However, seedless (triploid) varieties have several production limitations, including low seed germination rates compared with diploid varieties, and generally lower stand establishment rates as a result of seedling sensitivity to environmental stresses. Seed characteristics partly account for these limitations. Triploid watermelon seeds are smaller in size, which has been associated with a limited amount of reserves to support germination and seedling growth. Significantly smaller lipid bodies and lower starch levels have been reported in triploid compared to the diploid seeds and these observations were correlated with significantly lower average germination rates for triploid seeds 3,4 . Besides size, other seed characteristics such as their thick seed ...

Green nanotechnology is rapidly expanding in sustainable precision agriculture that promises to revolutionize food production. In the present study, nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a green process involving the use of onion extracts as reducing agents. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using onion extract and characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering technique, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. In addition, two nanoemulsions were also prepared from turmeric oil and citrus oil using a low energy method based on spontaneous emulsification. These NPs and emulsions were used for priming aged onion seeds. Internalization studies conducted by instrumental neutron activation analysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed that the treated nanoparticles and nanoemulsions were internalized into onion seeds. Multiple greenhouse and field studies demonstrated enhanced seed germination, emergence, growth, and yield compared with unprimed and hydroprimed seeds. Seed priming with AuNPs showed a significant change in emergence percentage (63.2%) compared to unprimed control (37.4%) during combined analysis of both year experiments. An average yield increase of 23.9% was observed in AuNPs treated onion, as compared to unprimed onion. The results of the present study demonstrate safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials in agriculture.

Onion is among the most widely cultivated and consumed economic crops. Onions are an excellent dietary source of polyphenols and nutrients. However, onions phytonutrient compositions vary with cultivars and growing locations. Therefore, the present study involved the evaluation of polyphenol, nutritional composition (proteins, nitrogen, and minerals), sugars, pyruvate, antioxidant, and α-amylase inhibition activities of red onion cultivars, sweet Italian, and honeysuckle grown in California and Texas, respectively. The total flavonoid for honeysuckle and sweet Italian was 449 and 345 μg/g FW, respectively. The total anthocyanin for honeysuckle onion was 103 μg/g FW, while for sweet Italian onion was 86 μg/g FW. Cyanidin-3-(6”-malonoylglucoside) and cyanidin-3-(6”-malonoyl-laminaribioside) were the major components in both the cultivars. The pungency of red onions in honeysuckle ranged between 4.9 and 7.9 μmoL/mL, whereas in sweet Italian onion ranged from 8.3 to 10 μmoL/mL. The principal component analysis was applied to determine the most important variables that separate the cultivars of red onion. Overall results indicated that total flavonoids, total phenolic content, total anthocyanins, protein, and calories for honeysuckle onions were higher than the sweet Italian onions. These results could provide information about high quality and adding value to functional food due to the phytochemicals and nutritional composition of red onions.

Four anthocyanins in the red midrib and petioles of Garnet Stem could be a potential source for antioxidants and can be used as a source of natural food color.

Seed priming is a promising approach to improve germination, emergence, and seedling growth by triggering pregerminative metabolism and enhancing seedling vigor. Recently, nanopriming gained importance in seed improvement as a result of the small size and unique physicochemical characteristics of nanomaterials. In the present study, silver and gold nanoparticles were synthesized using onion extracts as the reducing agent. Similarly, the agro-food industrial byproducts citrus seed oil and curcuminremoved turmeric oleoresin were used for the preparation of nanoemulsions. For seed priming, these green-synthesized nanomaterials were incubated with seeds of two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars (Legend and 50147) for 72 h, and then the plants were grown in a greenhouse for 3 weeks. Seed priming with these nanomaterials increased seed germination and seedling emergence. One-dimensional 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry metabolomics studies showed that different nanopriming treatments distinctly altered the metabolome of onion seedlings. Seed priming treatments significantly inhibited plant hormones and growth regulators, such as abscisic acid and cis-(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, and enhanced germination stimulators, such as γ-aminobutyric acid and zeatin, in onion seeds and seedlings. Therefore, these priming treatments have positive impact on improving seed performance and plant growth.

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