Table 1.
The forward (F) and reverse (R) sequences of primers for the target genes, including EREB, WRKY1, HDA3, bHLH, R2R3MYB, HsfA1a, CAT, and MKK2, and Elongation factor (a housekeeping gene).
Fig 1.
The BZnO- and ZnO-NP-mediated changes in the growth and yield-related characteristics, including plant height [a], shoot fresh mass [b], root fresh mass [c], fruiting time [d], the numbers of fruit per plant [e], and fruit fresh mass [f]. Different letters on top of columns refer to statistically significant differences according to Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ns: non-significant; *: 0.01<p≤0.05; **: 0.001<p≤0.01; ***: 0.0001<p≤0.001; ****: p≤0.0001. The p-value levels for comparing the mean of each group vs the control group are displayed by the asterisk on each column. Also, an asterisk [*] on the drawn lines presents the p-value levels for comparison between the BZnO and ZnONP groups.
Fig 2.
The variations in the expression of several transcription factor genes, including R2R3MYB [a], WRKY1 [b], bHLH [c], EREB [d], and HsfA1a [e] and MKK2 [f] as molecular responses to the long-time foliar application of BZnO and ZnO-NP at a low dose. Different letters on top of columns refer to statistically significant differences according to Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ns: non-significant; *: 0.01<p≤0.05; **: 0.001<p≤0.01; ***: 0.0001<p≤0.001; ****: p≤0.0001. The p-value levels for comparing the mean of each group vs the control group are displayed by the asterisk on each column. Also, an asterisk [*] on the drawn lines presents the p-value levels for comparison between the BZnO and ZnONP groups.
Fig 3.
The variation in the expression of HDA3 [a] and CAT [b] in response to the long-time foliar application of BZnO and ZnO-NP; Different letters on top of columns refer to statistically significant differences according to Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ns: non-significant; *: 0.01<p≤0.05; **: 0.001<p≤0.01; ***: 0.0001<p≤0.001; ****: p≤0.0001. The p-value levels for comparing the mean of each group vs the control group are displayed by the asterisk on each column. Also, an asterisk [*] on the drawn lines presents the p-value levels for comparison between the BZnO and ZnONP groups.
Fig 4.
The modification in the concentration of leaf K [a], fruit K [b], leaf Fe [c], fruit Fe [d], leaf Zn [e], and fruit Zn [f] in response to the long-time foliar application of BZnO and ZnO-NP at a low dose. Different letters on top of columns refer to statistically significant differences according to Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ns: non-significant; *: 0.01<p≤0.05; **: 0.001<p≤0.01; ***: 0.0001<p≤0.001; ****: p≤0.0001. The p-value levels for comparing the mean of each group vs the control group are displayed by the asterisk on each column. Also, an asterisk [*] on the drawn lines presents the p-value levels for comparison between the BZnO and ZnONP groups.
Fig 5.
The BZnO and ZnONP-mediated variations in diverse important physiological traits, including the concentrations of Chla [a], Chlb [b], carotenoids [c], the activity of nitrate reductase enzyme [d], proline content [e] soluble phenols [f], PAL activity [g], catalase activity [h], and peroxidase activity [i]; Different letters on top of columns refer to statistically significant differences according to Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ns: non-significant; *: 0.01<p≤0.05; **: 0.001<p≤0.01; ***: 0.0001<p≤0.001; ****: p≤0.0001. The p-value levels for comparing the mean of each group vs the control group are displayed by the asterisk on each column. Also, an asterisk [*] on the drawn lines presents the p-value levels for comparison between the BZnO and ZnONP groups.
Fig 6.
Heatmap correlation matrix among target genes and growth/yield-related traits [a]; Heatmap correlation matrix among target genes and several physiological characteristics [b]; Heatmap correlation matrix among target genes and several investigated nutrients [c].
Fig 7.
BZnO and ZnONP- associated anatomical variation in stem cross-sections at 50 cm distance from the stem apical meristem; Treatment groups: a- Control; b- BZnO group; c- ZnONP group; Abbreviations: Co- Collenchyma; Xy- Xylem tissue; Pa- Parenchyma.