Enhancing the yield and berry color of crimson seedless table grape variety (Vitis vinifera L.) via zinc oxide nanoparticles integrated with molasses

BACKGROUND: , on productivity, cluster traits, anthocyanin accumulation, and antioxidant-related enzymes were evaluated. RESULTS: ZnO NPs + molasses treatment was superior for most of the studied parameters. For example, the total yield increased by approximately 8.9-11.4%, the total soluble solid (TSS) content increased by 48.4-43.8%, the firmness increased by 8.1-12.0%, and the acidity decreased by 16.3-15.4% compared with those of the control treatment in both seasons. Additionally, the same treatment resulted in the greatest increase in anthocyanin content (104.3-73.4%) and PAL activity (48.4-58.1%) compared with those of the control in both seasons. CONCLUSION: molasses once at the veraison stage increased the grape yield, color, and biochemical quality. While a single-stage application was effective, further studies could explore multistage applications or alternative timings to optimize the results.