The use of multifunctional carbon dots as a growth stimulant and regulator in the cellular propagation of cuttings from Humulus lupulus L.

In agriculture, Carbon dots (CD) have been used to improve crop growth and vegetable health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the application of boron, nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon co-doped carbon dots in the development of cuttings from the Zeus variety of hops (Humulus lupulus L.). Hops are known as one of the four traditional ingredients of beer. The CD were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. The cutting process was carried out in a greenhouse located at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco in Recife, Pernambuco. Fifteen basal cuttings, approxima tely 9 cm tall, were used and divided into three groups, each receiving an initial 30-minute treatment with water, CD, or indolebutyric acid (IBA) at a carbon concentration of 500 mg L^-1. After 14 days, it was observed that only 20% of the cuttings pretreated with water and 60% of those pretreated with CD developed.