Silicon Nanoparticles Improve the Shelf Life and Antioxidant Status of <i>Lilium</i>

The production of ornamentals is an economic activity of great interest, particularly the production of <i>Lilium</i>. This plant is very attractive for its color and shapes; however, the quality of its flower and its shelf life can decrease very fast. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to develop techniques that allow for increasing both flower quality and shelf life. Nanotechnology has allowed for the use of various materials with unique characteristics. These materials can induce a series of positive responses in plants, among which the production of antioxidant compounds stands out. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the application of silicone nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) on the quality, shelf life, and antioxidant status of <i>Lilium</i>. For this, different concentrations of SiO₂ NPs (0, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg L⁻¹) were applied in two ways, foliar and soil, as two independent experiments. The contents of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase) and non-enzymatic (phenols, flavonoids, and glutathione) antioxidant compounds, the mineral content, flower quality, and shelf life were analyzed. The results showed that the application of SiO₂ NPs through the foliar method induced a greater flowers’ shelf life (up to 21.62% more than the control); greater contents of Mg, P, and S (up to 25.6%, 69.1%, and 113.9%, respectively, compared to the control); more photosynthetic pigment (up to 65.17% of total chlorophyll); more glutathione peroxidase activity (up to 69.9%); more phenols (up to 25.93%); and greater antioxidant capacity as evaluated by the DPPH method (up to 5.18%). The use of SiO₂ NPs in the production of <i>Lilium</i> is a good alternative method to increase flower quality and shelf life.