Salinity stress is one of the main abiotic factors that negatively impact plant growth and productivity. Continuous exposure to NaCl leads to the accumulation of ions such as sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), and sulfate (SO(4)2(-)) in plant cells, impairing nutrient absorption and causing cellular and tissue damage. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternatives to mitigate the harmful effects of salinity stress in plants. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and morphological changes in Allium cepa exposed to different treatments of NaCl and lutein, both individually and in combination. Seeds (120) were germinated in Petri dishes containing NaCl (50 mM/mL) and lutein (256 mu g/mL and 512 mu g/mL) solutions, at pH 7.1. Then, the conductivity, the germination rate, and the biochemical and molecular analyses were performed. Combination of 256 mu g/mL lutein with 50 mM/mL NaCl demonstrated potential to reduce salinity-induced oxidative stress, suggesting the use of lutein as an effective mitigator against salt stress damage. Lutein showed a binding affinity of -7.19 kcal/mol with the onion target protein. These findings indicate that lutein may enhance plant resistance to adverse conditions, promoting greater survival and development. Further studies in other plant models are recommended to validate the use of lutein as a protective agent for agricultural management in saline soils.

Salt stress severely limits the growth and yield of wheat in saline-alkali soil. While nanozymes have shown promise in mitigating abiotic stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants, their application in alleviating salt stress for wheat is still limited. This study synthesized a highly active nanozyme catalyst known as ZnPB (Zn-modified Prussian blue) to improve the yield and quality of wheat in saline soil. According to the Michaelis-Menten equation, ZnPB demonstrates exceptional peroxidase-like enzymatic activity, thereby mitigating oxidative damage caused by salt stress. Additionally, studies have shown that the ZnPB nanozyme is capable of regulating intracellular Na+ efflux and K+ retention in wheat, resulting in a decrease in proline and soluble protein levels while maintaining the integrity of macromolecules within the cell. Consequently, field experiments demonstrated that the ZnPB nanozyme increased winter wheat yield by 12.15 %, while also significantly enhancing its nutritional quality. This research offers a promising approach to improving the salinity tolerance of wheat, while also providing insights into its practical application.