Potencialidades das nanopartículas de quitosana no déficit hídrico e durabilidade pós-colheita de girassol ornamental

Abstract

The advancement of nanotechnology has significantly expanded the application of nanomaterials across various fields, aiming to enhance efficiency and productivity, particularly in the agribusiness sector. The ornamental horticulture sector emerges as one of the most pressing areas for such exploration. The expansion of floriculture in Brazil and the increased market supply indicate that, to remain competitive in the sector, producers need to specialize and seek strategies to reduce production costs and improve the quality of flowers and ornamental plants, offering differentiated products. Sunflower is a crop with applicability in various sectors, which explains the great commercial interest in the species, with floriculture being one of the most common uses due to its unique beauty and the size of its flowers. Understanding the behavior of the crop is of great interest, as it is a key parameter for survival when subjected to adverse conditions. Thus, the importance of adapting seedlings to adverse environmental conditions is highlighted, driving the search for techniques that enable faster propagation and the production of high-quality material. The use of nanoparticles allows for a more efficient process, as they interact with plants at all stages of their life cycle, providing protection against various stresses. This research aimed to study the application of chitosan nanoparticles, at appropriate concentrations, in ornamental sunflower plants under water stress, evaluating their effects on plant growth and post-production durability. In conclusion, chitosan nanoparticles induce beneficial responses in ornamental sunflower plants, such as the activation of the antioxidant system, increased growth parameters, and greater biomass accumulation; however, the studied concentrations did not result in an