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ASPHC Baner

Vol. 25 No. 5 (2026):

Research paper

Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the morphological traits and nutritional quality of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) in in vitro culture

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/asphc.2026.5703
Submitted: 30 April 2026
Published: 30.10.2026

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are used to stimulate the growth and development of various plant species, including those grown in tissue cultures. However, there is still a lack of data regarding their effect on the micropropagation of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Asparagus is a valuable vegetable crop due to its taste, easy digestibility, low caloric value, and significant health-promoting properties. In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of ZnONPs on morphological traits and on the content of metals, total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and photosynthetic pigments in plantlets of A. officinalis derived from tissue cultures were evaluated. Shoot fragments obtained from seedlings grown in in vitro culture were used for micropropagation. Explants measuring approximately 0.5 cm were placed on MS medium supplemented with 0.20 mg dm-³ BAP, 0.25 mg dm-³ Kin, 0.20 mg dm-³ NAA, and ZnONPs at concentrations of 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg dm-³.  The in vitro culture was conducted over two subcultures lasting a total of four months. After four months of in vitro culture, the developed plantlets were removed from the culture vessels, and their morphological parameters were assessed. A portion of the plantlets was used for further analyses, including the determination of their metal content, photosynthetic pigments, TPC, and TAC using the DPPH assay. Zinc oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 20–40 mg dm-³ had a negative effect on the number of shoots, length of roots and the fresh weight of plantlets. ZnONPs at concentrations of 20–40 mg dm⁻³ negatively affected shoot number, root length, and fresh weight of plantlets. At concentrations of 10–20 mg dm⁻³, ZnONPs did not affect shoot length or root number, whereas the 40 mg dm⁻³ treatment negatively affected these parameters. In samples of asparagus plantlets grown under treatment conditions involving 10–40 mg dm-³ of ZnONPs, higher levels of K, Zn, and Cu and lower levels of Ca and Mn were found compared with the control group. Samples grown at the 10–20 mg dm-³ treatments contained more Mg and Fe than in the control. Strong positive correlations were found between the ZnONPs treatments and the concentrations of Zn and K, and strong negative correlations were found between these treatments and the concentrations of Ca, Mn, and Mg. The total content of phenols and antioxidants measured by the DPPH method, as well as photosynthetic pigments, in plantlets grown at the 10–20 mg dm-³ ZnONPs treatments was higher than in the control.

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