Foliar exposure of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on Nicotiana benthamiana: Evidence for nanoparticles uptake, plant growth promoter and defense response elicitor against plant virus

Nanoparticles as Potential Antivirals in Agriculture

“…Some complexes with metals, for example, chitosan Schiff base nanosilver (S-cos-Ag), significantly reduced the number of lesions in TMV-infected tobacco leaves, inducing TMV resistance and promoting the tobacco's immunity [66]. These studies support the idea of Cai et al [61], which states that the use of MeNPs as antivirals in plants is due not only through the inactivation of viruses and inhibition of multiplication but also the activation of plant defense mechanisms that leads to plant immunity and growth response, in which the antioxidant system, resistance genes, and plant hormones participate (Figure 1). the activation of plant defense mechanisms that leads to plant immunity and growth response, in which the antioxidant system, resistance genes, and plant hormones participate (Figure 1).…”

“…The results of this work suggest a direct inactivation of TMV by MeNPs due to the interaction with envelope glycoproteins, which causes the direct injury of TMV shell proteins, TMV aggregation, and even fracture. TMV particles treated with Fe 3 O 4 NPs display the same aggregation and fracture; furthermore, direct interactions between Fe 3 O 4 NPs and TMV particles lead to larger particle sizes [61]. AgNPs can also bind to coat protein virus particles of the tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) [62].…”

“…The above shows the ability of NPs mixed with other compounds to present a synergistic effect. Some authors suggest that MeNPs activate the immune system of plants [9,61,72,76]. To evaluate the protective effect of nanoparticles in tobacco plants (Nicotiana benthamiana) contra TMV, Cai et al [9] applied ZnO and SiO 2 NPs 3, 7, and 12 days before inoculating with the virus; the 12-day treatment exhibited high antiviral effects and more efficiently prevented TMV from spreading to newly emerged leaves.…”

“…Furthermore, the authors reported that NahG transgenic plants, i.e., plants that degrade SA, did not reduce virus accumulation after 12 days of Fe 3 O 4 NP treatment. The above indicates the generation of plant resistance induced by Fe 3 O 4 NPs was mainly due to the upregulation of SA synthesis [61]. Some complexes with metals, for example, chitosan Schiff base nanosilver (S-cos-Ag), significantly reduced the number of lesions in TMV-infected tobacco leaves, inducing TMV resistance and promoting the tobacco's immunity [66].…”

“…Studies have shown that the application of TiO 2 , CeO 2 , ZnO, CuO, Ag, NiO, Al 2 O 3 , CoFe 2 O 4 , Fe 3 O 4 , and γ-Fe 2 O 3 NPs can induce the repression of oxidative stress and the antioxidant system in various crops [78]. Cai et al [61] studied the foliar application of Fe 3 O 4 NPs treatment on tobacco leaves; the results show that this treatment induced the production of ROS, which could be related to the induction of resistance in tobacco. ZnO and SiO 2 NPs accumulated hydrogen peroxide, even without the presence of the virus.…”