EFFECTS OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES ON GROWTH, MICROMORPHOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY OF GRAFTED EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA)

Grafting is a technique that allows plants to maximize water and nutrient absorption, while the use of nanoscale materials as fertilizers takes advantage of their unique physical and chemical properties. This study examined the effects of different zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnONPs) concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60 mg L-1) on the micromorphology, histology, and growth of grafted eggplants. The stomatic density and index, stoma length and width, as well as the number and area of xylem vessels were evaluated. The plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, root length, root dry weight, and foliar dry weight were also recorded. The results show that grafting primarily promotes plant growth and micromorphology, increasing the number of xylem vessels but reducing their area. The zinc oxide nanoparticles at a dose of 20 mg L-1 had favorable effects on leaf number, while at 40 mg L-1, there were positive changes in the stomatic density and index, as well as an increase in the number of xylem vessels along with a concurrent reduction in their area in grafted plants.