Effect of Gamma-aminobutyric acid and Nano zinc Oxide Treatment on Element Uptake, and some Morphological and Phytochemical Characteristics of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

10.30466/asr.2026.56162.1884

Abstract

Vegetables, as a key source of many valuable compounds, play an important role in ensuring food security and human nutrition. Recently, the use of compounds and elements as foliar sprays has improved the quality and growth of plants. Among them, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid and zinc is an essential nutrient for plants and humans, which play an important role in plant metabolism. This research was carried out as a factorial and completely randomized design with two foliar spray treatments including Nano ZnO and GABA in three replications and their effects on the growth and phytochemical traits of leaves and fruits of hot pepper plant (C. annuum) were investigated. In this study, morphological and phytochemical traits (in leaf and fruit tissue) and some elements in leaf tissue were investigated. In all measured traits, the applied treatments showed significant differences compared to the control. The results of morphological traits showed that the highest fruit fresh weight (12.60 g) was obtained in the treatment of 1 mM GABA with a concentration of 0 ppm Nano ZnO, and the highest fruit dry weight (2.47 g) was obtained in the treatment of 2 mM GABA with a concentration of 0 ppm Nano ZnO. The highest phenol content in leaves and fruits was 51.30 (2 mM GABA treatment) and 21.67 mg Gallic acid/gr FW in the combined treatment of 2 mM GABA and 150 ppm Nano ZnO. The highest flavonoid content in leaves and fruits was 6.32 and 4.91 mg quercetin/ gr FW in the combined treatment of 2 mM GABA and 150 ppm Nano ZnO, respectively. The highest antioxidant activity by DPPH method was observed in leaves and fruits, 77.71 % and 46.55 %, respectively. The results showed that in most phytochemical traits, the application of 2 mM GABA along with 150 ppm Nano ZnO increased the synthesis of compounds.

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Main Subjects

References

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  • Receive Date: 05 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 22 September 2025

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