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Open Access

ARTICLE

Foliar Application of Boron Nanoparticles to Enhance Productivity, Postharvest Quality and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Summer Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Md. Abdul Quddus1,*, Khokan Kumer Sarker2, Zoheb Hasan Fahad1, Shafkat Tashzi3, Shimul Mondal4, Nazneen Ara Sultana5, Rabeka Sultana Smriti6, Md. Anarul Islam1, Md. Ruhul Amin7, Hela Znazen8, Ahmed Gaber9, Akbar Hossain10,*
1 Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
2 Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh
3 Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4 Agricultural Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Satkhira, Khulna, Bangladesh
5 Oil Seed Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
6 Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
7 On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
8 Department of Physical Sports Sciences, College of Sports Sciences and Physical Activity, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
9 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
10 Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
* Corresponding Author: Md. Abdul Quddus. Email: email; Akbar Hossain. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Application of Nanomaterials in Plants)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.086296

Received 27 May 2026; Accepted 31 July 2026; Published online 17 August 2026

Abstract

The productivity of summer tomato in subtropical regions is hampered by boron (B) deficiency, an element essential for reproductive development. Conventional soil or foliar applications often suffer from nutrient leaching and inadequate uptake. Nanoboron fertilizers offer a highly efficient and innovative alternative; their small particle size and high surface-to-volume ratio enhance cellular penetration. This study evaluated the efficacy of foliar-applied boron nanoparticles in improving summer tomato productivity, fruit quality, nutrient use efficiency and profitability, while determining the optimal dosage for maximizing yield. A field study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The five treatments consisted of four concentrations of nanoboron (0, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g L−1) along with conventional boric acid at 1 g L−1. Treatments were applied as foliar sprays at 20 days after transplanting (DAT) (corresponding to flower initiation), 35 DAT (corresponding to peak flowering and initial fruit set), and 50 DAT (corresponding to late fruit set and early fruit expansion). The application of boron nanoparticles significantly outperformed conventional boric acid in terms of all the measured parameters. The highest results were observed with 0.2 g L−1 nano B fertilizer (T2), which increased the fresh fruit yield (41.2 t ha−1) by 59.7% compared with that in the control treatment and 9.57% compared with that in the conventional boric acid treatment. This increase was attributed to greater individual fruit weight (53.0 g), maximum number of fruits per plant (43.7), and greatest plant height (110 cm). The same treatment (T2) resulted in the highest total soluble solids (TSS) (5.53 °Brix), vitamin C (34.7 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (21.8 μ/g) contents and the highest B uptake (604 g ha−1) and B use efficiency. T2 treatment prominently increased the cost-benefit ratio (5.94). The results suggest that 0.2 g L−1 nanoboron is the optimum dosage for maximizing the yield, quality and profitability of summer tomatoes under experimental condition. Hence, this technique provides a precision-based farming solution to the challenges associated with soil B fixation, leading to higher yields and better fruit quality with less waste.

Keywords

Growth; nanoboron; nutrient uptake; profitability; Solanum lycopersicum L.; boron; benefit-cost ratio

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