Nanotechnology is a vital domain for improving growth, productivity, and abiotic stress resistance of horticultural crops. In this study, semi-spherical shaped biogenic AgNPs with size ranging between 21 nm and 48 nm were synthesized using rambutan fruit extract and characterized using SEM and TEM, and beneficial effects of AgNPs on salt-treated marigold (Calendula officinalis L. cv. Orange King) plants were evaluated. Plants were grown in pots filled with sandy loam soil until reaching up to six leaves and then irrigated with water containing 100 mM NaCl. After a week of salt stress, foliar spray treatments with AgNPs were performed three times every 20 days. Results showed that shoot and root dry weights and total chlorophyll content of salt-stressed plants decreased more than 35 % compared to non-stressed plants, but oxidative biomarkers including electrolyte leakage (EL) and concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) substantially increased. Foliar spraying of AgNPs decreased EL and proline contents, increased leaf chlorophyll and protein contents, and alleviated the growth inhibition of salt-stressed plants. The amelioration of salt stress was accompanied by changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX, CAT, POD, PPO, and PAL) and reduction of MDA and H2O2 concentrations. Floral secondary metabolites including carotenoids, total flavonoids, total phenols, as well DPPH improved in response to application of AgNPs. Our data suggest that AgNPs were able to alleviate negative effects of salt stress on marigold plants through its ability to produce enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Thus, foliar application of AgNPs could be a viable solution to improve its growth and edible flowers production when grown in salt affected soils.

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant threat to global food security and the environment. Astaxanthin (AX), a potent biological antioxidant belonging to the carotenoid group, has been demonstrated to confer tolerance against diverse abiotic stresses in plants. This study investigated the potential of AX in mitigating Cd-induced damage in wheat seedlings. Morpho-physiological, ultrastructural, and biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of AX on Cd-exposed wheat seedlings. Illumina-based gene expression profiling was employed to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of AX. The addition of 100 mu M AX alleviated Cd toxicity by enhancing various parameters: growth, photosynthesis, carotenoid content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), while reducing Cd accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) levels. RNA sequencing analysis revealed differentially expressed genes associated with Cd uptake and carotenoid metabolism, such as zinc/iron permease (ZIP), heavy metal-associated protein (HMA), 3 -beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3-beta-HSD), and thiolase. These findings suggest that AX enhances Cd tolerance in wheat seedlings by promoting the expression of detoxification and photosynthesis-related genes. This research offers valuable insights into the potential use of AX to address Cd contamination in agricultural systems, highlighting the significance of antioxidant supplementation in plant stress management.