Comparative physiological and metabolomic analyses revealed that foliar spraying with zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles modulates metabolite profiles in cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i>L.)

Previous studies have reported crop toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) by root exposure and that silica (SiO2-NPs) modulate growth soil physicochemical properties. In this study, we determined the effects foliar to ZnO-NPs SiO2-NPs on metabolomic profile cucumber seedlings. Foliar spraying with improved plant performance, as indicated increases in chlorophyll contents, fluorescence parameters, fresh/dry weights leaves roots. According analysis results, induced pronounced changes metabolome, especially leaves. Besides, ZnO-NP or SiO2-NP treatments either upregulated downregulated contents amino acids, organic sugars glycosides, secondary metabolites, indicating two NPs affected both primary metabolism metabolism. The elevated levels several metabolites involved antioxidative defense imply potentially regulate stress resistance plants. Overall, these results indicate different from exposure, is beneficial growth. present study provides a theoretical basis for environmental assessment application agricultural production.