ASHS 2025 Conference

Priming seeds with nanoparticles (NPs) has the potential to enhance germination, growth, and resilience against environmental stresses by inducing the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which promote plant protection and health. However, the effectiveness of the essential micronutrients iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) as priming agents for crop production and postharvest qualities is largely unexplored. This study examines the impact of seed priming with Fe- and Cu-NPs on the production of onions, a crop of significant economic importance in Texas. NPs were synthesized using a green approach that employs onion juice as a reducing agent. The resulting Fe-NPs and Cu-NPs were characterized, and an optimal dose, determined by the length of root and shoot growth, was employed as a priming agent for two commercial yellow onion varieties (Legends and Pecos) and two Texas A