Evaluation of the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on disease management and physiological responses of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Super Dominus) infected with watermelon mosaic virus

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 department of plant protection-faculty of agriculture-university of jiroft

2 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Jiroft.

3 department of biology-faculty of science-university of Jiroft

4 Department of Plant Protection-Faculty of Agriculture-University of Birjand

5 Department of Plant Protection-Faculty of Agriculture-University of Jiroft

Abstract

Watermelon mosaic virus (Potyvirus citrulli, WMV) is one of the most important viruses infecting cucurbits in the world. In this study, the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the severity of disease symptoms, growth traits, plant pigments, and total sugar in cucumber plants of the Super Dominus cultivar infected with WMV was investigated. ZnO NPs were sprayed on two- to three-leaf seedlings at a concentration of 250 and 500 mg/L twice, 24 hours apart. After 24 hours from the second spray, WMV inoculum was mechanically inoculated into the designed treatment groups. The experiment was conducted as a two-factor factorial (nanoparticles and WMV) in a completely randomized design. One month after the treatments, morphological characteristics, biochemical parameters, and severity of disease symptoms were examined. Based on the results, the virus led to a decrease in growth traits, plant pigments, and total sugar compared to the control. A concentration of 250 mg/L of nanoparticles compared to 500 mg/L in the presence of the pathogen reduced the severity of disease symptoms and improved growth parameters, and plant pigments. Due to the reduction of disease damage and the absence of destructive environmental effects of this nanoparticle, it is a suitable option for the management of WMV. The use of a concentration of 250 mg/L of zinc oxide nanoparticles is recommended to improve the performance of this cucumber variety infected with WMV. This study is the first report of evaluating the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the management of WMV in cucumber plants.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Plant Pathology
Volume 60, Issue 3
December 2025
Pages 244-266

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