Zinc-Based Nanomaterials for Diagnosis and Management of Plant Diseases: Ecological Safety and Future Prospects

Abstract

A facet of nanorenaissance in plant pathology hailed the research on the development and application of nanoformulations or nanoproducts for the effective management of phytopathogens deterring the growth and yield of plants and thus the overall crop productivity. Zinc nanomaterials represent a versatile class of nanoproducts and nanoenabled devices as these nanomaterials can be synthesized in quantum amounts through economically affordable processes/approaches. Further, these nanomaterials exhibit potential targeted antimicrobial properties and low to negligible phytotoxicity activities that well-qualify them to be applied directly or in a deviant manner to accomplish significant antibacterial, antimycotic, antiviral, and antitoxigenic activities against diverse phytopathogens causing plant diseases. The photo-catalytic, fluorescent, and electron generating aspects associated with zinc nanomaterials have been utilized for the development of sensor systems (optical and electrochemical biosensors), enabling quick, early, sensitive, and on-field assessment or quantification of the test phytopathogen. However, the proficient use of Zn-derived nanomaterials in the management of plant pathogenic diseases as nanopesticides and on-field sensor system demands that the associated eco- and biosafety concerns should be well discerned and effectively sorted beforehand. Current and possible utilization of zinc-based nanostructures in plant disease diagnosis and management and their safety in the agroecosystem is highlighted.

Nettle-Leaf Extract Derived ZnO/CuO Nanoparticle-Biopolymer-Based Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Nanocomposite Packaging Films and Their Impact on Extending the Post-Harvest Shelf Life of Guava Fruit

“…The fruit spoilage (%) was decreased with the fruit wash water studies which illustrated an overall low microbial viable count for nanocomposite film packaged fruits. The anti-mycotic and anti-bacterial potential of the CuO and ZnO NPs can be attributed to formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the metallic ion obtained on dissolution of the NPs in the cell milieu after internalization of the NPs in the cell [ 63 ]. However, as a function of the length of the storage duration, an increase in the bacterial and fungal counts was reported on storage [ 64 ].…”

Differential Antimycotic and Antioxidant Potentials of Chemically Synthesized Zinc-Based Nanoparticles Derived from Different Reducing/Complexing Agents against Pathogenic Fungi of Maize Crop

“…The genomic DNA fragmentation may be attributed to the physical and chemical properties of the NPs [ 55 ] including the size, concentration [ 56 , 57 ], chemistry [ 56 , 57 , 58 ], and surface functionalization [ 59 ]. Though within a fungal cell the predominant mechanism of degradation of the cellular DNA by ZnNPs is through formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which causes extensive DNA scissoring and fragmentation [ 7 ]. However, direct interactions of ZnNPs with DNA molecules involve the binding of DNA with ZnO nanoparticles to nucleobases [ 60 ].…”

“…The present decade has witnessed the emergence and use of nano-scale materials as potent anti-microbials particularly anti-fungal agents. The zinc nanomaterials including the nano-zinc particles possess excellent anti-mycotic properties against a variety of plant fungal pathogens [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The predominant mechanisms governing the anti-mycotic effect of ZnNPs include the reactive oxygen species enabled stress besides Zn 2+ -based toxicity occurring due to the formation of these ions on dissolution of ZnNPs in the cell environment [ 7 ].…”

“…The zinc nanomaterials including the nano-zinc particles possess excellent anti-mycotic properties against a variety of plant fungal pathogens [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The predominant mechanisms governing the anti-mycotic effect of ZnNPs include the reactive oxygen species enabled stress besides Zn 2+ -based toxicity occurring due to the formation of these ions on dissolution of ZnNPs in the cell environment [ 7 ]. The size of ZnNPs and their crystal chemistry can affect the fungicidal potential as these characteristics alter the ability to trespass the fungal cell wall and membrane structures to elicit ROS response besides varying the dissolution of the ZnNPs within the fungal cell cytoplasm.…”

Nanohybrid Antifungals for Control of Plant Diseases: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…Generally, fungal cell wall and cell membrane architecture involves chitin, lipids, phospholipids and polysaccharides with specific predominance of mannoproteins, β-1,3- d -glucan and β-1,6- d -glucan proteins [ 54 ]. Internalization of the nanomaterials occurs through three mechanisms; (i) direct internalization of nanoparticles in the cell wall, (ii) specific receptor-mediated adsorption followed by internalization, (iii) internalization of nanomaterials through ion transport proteins [ 55 ]. Post-internalization, the nanomaterials may inhibit the enzyme β-glucan synthase thereby affecting the N-acetylglucosamine [N-acetyl- d -glucose-2-amine] synthesis in the cell wall of fungi.…”