Using nanoparticles to mitigate salinity stress in Mentha species
Issue: 1/2026
Recevied: April 30, 2025
Accepted: December 14, 2025
Published: February 2, 2026
Authors:
I. Gül, B. Öztaş Kurt
Categories: Agricultural, Horticulture and forestry
DOI: 10.5601/jelem.2025.30.2.3571
Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of graphene oxide (GO), nanoparticles (NPs), and quercetin (QC) applications in alleviating salinity stress in two Mentha species: Mentha piperita (peppermint) and Mentha spicata (spearmint). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Foliar applications of GO, NPs, and QC were conducted over three consecutive days at concentrations of 0, 25, and 50 mg L⁻¹. Following a 48-hour interval, salinity treatments (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) were subsequently imposed through soil irrigation. Phenolic compound contents in leaves were analyzed after treatments, and data were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range test (p<0.05). The treatments significantly affected the accumulation of phenolic compounds under salt stress. GO application enhanced chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic, and salicylic acids, while QC increased caffeic, vanillic, and quercetin contents. NP treatment generally promoted the biosynthesis of several phenolic acids, including catechinhydrate, p-coumaric, and rutin. In salt stress experiments on M. spicata and M. piperita, chlorogenic acid content varied among treatments. In M. spicata, the highest level was observed in 25 mg L-1 GO + 50 mM NaCl (9.22 g kg-1), while in M. piperita, the maximum was recorded in 25 mg L-1 GO + 100 mM NaCl (6.49 g kg-1). The lowest levels (0.00 g kg-1) occurred in several treatments, including controls. These findings indicate that the use of nanoparticles and bioactive compounds can mitigate the adverse effects of salinity stress by modulating phenolic metabolism in Mentha species.
Citation:
JELEM / HARVARD
MDPI
AMA
CHICAGO
Keywords:
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