Nanobionics in Crop Production: An Emerging Approach to Modulate Plant Functionalities

Abstract

The “Zero Hunger” goal is one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Therefore, improvements in crop production have always been a prime objective to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. In the last decade, studies have acknowledged the role of photosynthesis augmentation and enhancing nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in improving crop production. Recently, the applications of nanobionics in crop production have given hope with their lucrative properties to interact with the biological system. Nanobionics have significantly been effective in modulating the photosynthesis capacity of plants. It is documented that nanobionics could assist plants by acting as an artificial photosynthetic system to improve photosynthetic capacity, electron transfer in the photosystems, and pigment content, and enhance the absorption of light across the UV-visible spectrum. Smart nanocarriers, such as nanobionics, are capable of delivering the active ingredient nanocarrier upon receiving external stimuli. This can markedly improve NUE, reduce wastage, and improve cost effectiveness. Thus, this review emphasizes the application of nanobionics for improving crop yield by the two above-mentioned approaches. Major concerns and future prospects associated with the use of nanobionics are also deliberated concisely.

Impact of Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Aspartic Acid on the Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Chlorophyll Content of Maize

“…Among different types of iron oxide nanoparticles, magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles are successfully used in biomedical applications, exhibiting low toxicity and high stability [1]. Recently, nanobiotechnology has extended its relevance in plant science and agriculture [2,3]. There is a particular interest in the applications of magnetic nanoparticles to plants for agricultural and horticultural benefits.…”

Nano‐enabled stress‐smart agriculture: Can nanotechnology deliver drought and salinity‐smart crops?

“…Nanoporous materials can be designed to deposit and distribute water slowly in agricultural zones facing severe water deficits (Niazian et al, 2021; Ranjan et al, 2022). Nanomaterials could also deliver the right amount and form of nutrients and pesticides with high precision based on plant needs, decreasing unnecessary chemical use and their environmental impact due to leached mineral residues (Hu & Xianyu, 2021; Usman et al, 2020).…”

“…Nanomaterials could also deliver the right amount and form of nutrients and pesticides with high precision based on plant needs, decreasing unnecessary chemical use and their environmental impact due to leached mineral residues (Hu & Xianyu, 2021; Usman et al, 2020). However, there are challenges involved in designing effective and nontoxic nano‐enabled agrochemicals that are safer than their counterparts for plants and agroecosystems, providing eco‐friendly solutions for modern agriculture (Abdollahdokht et al, 2022; Hu & Xianyu, 2021; Ranjan et al, 2022; Usman et al, 2020). Recent improvements in genetic engineering tools and engineered nanomaterials have facilitated the targeted distribution of nanocarriers (mRNA and sgRNA) for genetic crop alteration (Demirer et al, 2021; Yan et al, 2022).…”

“…Adverse conditions can have distinctive effects on plant performance at different phenological stages, as can the exogenous application of plant modulators to mitigate stress-induced undesirable effects. The available literature suggests a developmental-dependent response of plants to various types of exogenous materials in terms of accelerating or delaying growth characteristics(Kupke et al, 2021;Ostrowska et al, 2021;Ranjan et al, 2022). Recent studies have evaluated the use of appropriate concentrations of NPs for alleviating the antagonistic effects of abiotic factors, for example, salinity and drought(Abdelsalam et al, 2023;Usman et al, 2020;Zahedi et al, 2019;Zulfiqar & Ashraf, 2021).…”

Nanobionics: A Sustainable Agricultural Approach towards Understanding Plant Response to Heavy Metals, Drought, and Salt Stress

“…The main barriers for effective NP uptake along the symplastic pathway include cell wall porosity, plasma membranes, organelle membranes, as well as the diameter and the width of the plasmodesmata. The apoplastic barriers in the roots may be impacted by the NPs [ 70 ]. For instance, in Brassica napus , CeO 2 NPs reduce the length of the root apoplastic barrier [ 71 ].…”