Seed priming and crop quality enhancement in cabbage and broccoli using cooling storage and nanoparticle approaches

Seed priming strategies that combine cooling storage with nanoparticles (NPs) applications offer a promising approach to enhance germination, growth, yield, and quality in Brassicaceae crops. This study evaluated the effects of cooling storage (4 °C and 10 °C), alone and in combination with nanoparticles, including zinc oxide (ZnONPs), copper oxide (CuONPs), and titanium dioxide (TiO2NPs), on cabbage and broccoli. Experiments were conducted both in vitro using CRD and in the open field using RCBD, with three replications per treatment. The results showed that moderate cooling (10 °C) combined with ZnONPs significantly improved seed priming by reducing mean germination time and enhancing germination uniformity. Morphological traits were affected, with ZnONPs increasing leaf area and stem thickness, while CuONPs accelerated head initiation and increased yield per plant under cooling conditions. Nanoparticle treatments further improved nutritional quality. Specifically, ZnONPs increased antioxidant metabolites, including vitamin K and glucosinolates, while CuONPs elevated vitamin A content and decreased nitrate accumulation in cabbage. Mineral contents were significantly higher under ZnONPs across both cooling treatments. These findings demonstrate that integrating cooling storage with nanoparticle-based seed priming can effectively boost germination vigor, crop performance, and nutritional value, offering a sustainable strategy for producing high-quality, health-promoting Brassicaceae vegetables.