Nanopowders of cuprum, cobalt and their oxides used in the intensive technology for growing cucumbers

The paper covers the development of an intensive technology for growing vegetables using some nanodrugs. Each farm growing cucumbers is intended to increase its production of vegetables by means of multiplying their yield, which can be achieved by combining a number of vegetables grown both in the open and on protected ground. Since the cucumber enters its fruiting period early, it requires very good soil fertility and mineral nutrition conditions. This research aims to study effects of biologically active nanopowders of cuprum, cobalt and their oxides on the vital, metric and weight parameters of cucumber seeds, their antioxidant system, the metabolism regulation during the ontogeny of cucumber plantlets and the content of pigments in cucumber sprouts under the influence of nanopowders. Cobalt and cuprum nanoparticles at the concentration range of 0.1-10 g/ha are regarded as regulators of the cucumber sprouts growth and development and are considered to be environmentally sound. The maximum concentration of copper oxide nanoparticles is 1.0 g/ha. Changes occurring in plant cells affect all the centres of metabolic activity, including mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes and a nuclear apparatus. Both in organelles and the cytoplasm, enzymes are subject to changes, especially superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase, whose activity and spectrum change under the action of nanoparticles. The discovered ability of nanoparticles to activate physiological and biochemical processes during seeds germination is of a special interest from a practical viewpoint.