Impact of nanopollution on plant growth, photosynthesis, toxicity, and metabolism in the agricultural sector: An updated review

Nanomaterials impact in phytohormone signaling networks of plants - A critical review

Nanotechnology offers a transformative approach to augment plant growth and crop productivity under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Nanomaterials interact with key phytohormones, triggering the synthesis of stress-associated metabolites, activating antioxidant defense mechanisms, and modulating gene expression networks that regulate diverse physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes within plant systems. This review critically examines the impact of nanoparticles on both conventional and genetically modified crops, focusing on their role in nutrient delivery systems and the modulation of plant cellular machinery. Nanoparticle-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation plays a central role in altering secondary metabolite biosynthesis, highlighting their function as potent elicitors and stimulants in plant systems. The review underscores the significant contribution of nanoparticles in enhancing stress resilience through the modulation of phytohormonal signaling pathways, offering novel insights into their potential for improving crop health and productivity under environmental stressors.

ZnO Nanofertilizer Reduced Organic Phosphorus Transformation and Altered Microbial Function in Soil for Sustainable Agriculture

The impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as nanofertilizers on the transformation of phytogenic organic phosphorus (OP), specifically phytic acid (PA) and soy lecithin (LE), as well as their effects on soil microbial functions, remain insufficiently characterized. This study employed a 60-day soil microuniverse experiment to investigate microbial responses to OP under ZnO NPs exposure, focusing on soil physicochemical properties, phosphorus (P) and Zn species transformations, bacterial community and function. At low concentrations (5 and 20 mg/kg), ZnO NPs did not significantly reduce the available P content, but they reduced the transformation of OP into other P species. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy revealed that ZnO NPs increased the relative abundance of PA from 0.6 to 3.5% and LE from 58.4 to 67.1%. Bacterial community composition was influenced by P species rather than ZnO NPs concentration. A coupled biogeochemical cycle among carbon, nitrogen and P was observed, with higher total phosphorus further enhancing the abundance of genes involved in P-related processes, such as OP mineralization genes, which increased 6-, 4-, and 2-fold in PAZ5, LEZ5, and PiZ5, respectively, compared to Z5. Carbon fixation genes generally increased in the P-added groups, exemplified by atoB, which encodes acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, showing a 3.70-, 3.05-, and 3.47-fold increase compared to Z5. In contrast, denitrification genes, nirS, decreased by 0.08-, 0.10-, and 0.33-fold. These findings shed light on the fate of ZnO nanofertilizers and P, supporting the sustainable application of nanofertilizers and the improvement of soil fertility.

Lipid Nanoparticles Carrying Essential Oils for Multiple Applications as Antimicrobials

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are versatile delivery systems with high interest because they allow the release of hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules, such as essential oils (EOs) and plant extracts. This review covers published works between 2019 and 2024 that have reported the use of essential EO-based LNPs with antimicrobial properties and applications in human and animal health, as well as biopesticides. In the human healthcare field, reports have addressed the effect of encapsulating EOs in lipid nanosystems with antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antifungal activities. In animal care, this still needs to be more deeply explored while looking for more sustainable alternatives against different types of parasites that affect animal health. Overall, the antibacterial activities of LNPs carrying EOs are described as alternatives to the use of synthetic antibiotics. In the field of agriculture, studies showed that these approaches in the control of phytopathogens and other pests that affect food production. There is a growing demand for innovative and more sustainable technologies. However, there are still some challenges to be overcome in order to allow these innovations to reach the market.

Nanoparticles as catalysts of agricultural revolution: enhancing crop tolerance to abiotic stress: a review

Ensuring global food security and achieving sustainable agricultural productivity remains one of the foremost challenges of the contemporary era. The increasing impacts of climate change and environmental stressors like drought, salinity, and heavy metal (HM) toxicity threaten crop productivity worldwide. Addressing these challenges demands the development of innovative technologies that can increase food production, reduce environmental impacts, and bolster the resilience of agroecosystems against climate variation. Nanotechnology, particularly the application of nanoparticles (NPs), represents an innovative approach to strengthen crop resilience and enhance the sustainability of agriculture. NPs have special physicochemical properties, including a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and the ability to penetrate plant tissues, which enhances nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and photosynthetic efficiency. This review paper explores how abiotic stressors impact crops and the role of NPs in bolstering crop resistance to these challenges. The main emphasis is on the potential of NPs potential to boost plant stress tolerance by triggering the plant defense mechanisms, improving growth under stress, and increasing agricultural yield. NPs have demonstrated potential in addressing key agricultural challenges, such as nutrient leaching, declining soil fertility, and reduced crop yield due to poor water management. However, applying NPs must consider regulatory and environmental concerns, including soil accumulation, toxicity to non-target organisms, and consumer perceptions of NP-enhanced products. To mitigate land and water impacts, NPs should be integrated with precision agriculture technologies, allowing targeted application of nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides. Although further research is necessary to assess their advantages and address concerns, NPs present a promising and cost-effective approach for enhancing food security in the future.

Nanomaterials in plant physiology: Main effects in normal and under temperature stress

Global climate change and high population growth rates lead to problems of food security and environmental pollution, which require new effective methods to increase yields and stress tolerance of important crops. Nowadays the question of using artificial chemicals is very relevant in theoretical and practical terms. It is important that such substances in low concentrations protect plants under stress conditions, but at the same time inflict minimal damage on the environment and human health. Nanotechnology, which allows the production of a wide range of nanomaterials (NM), provides novel techniques in this direction. NM include structures less than 100 nm. The review presents data on the methods of NM production, their properties, pathways for arrival in plants and their use in human life. It is shown that NM, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, can cross biological barriers and accumulate in cells of live organisms. The influence of NM on plant organism can be both positive and negative, depending on the NM chemical nature, their size and dose, the object of study, and the environmental conditions. This review provides a comparative analysis of the effect of artificial metal nanoparticles (NPm), the commonly employed NMs in plant physiology, on two important aspects of plant life: photosynthetic apparatus activity and antioxidant system function. According to studies, NM affect not only the functional activity of photosynthetic apparatus, but also structural organization of chloroplats. In addition, the literature analysis reflects the dual action of NM on oxidative processes, and antioxidant status of plants. These facts considerably complicate the ideas about possible mechanisms and further use of NPm in biology. In this regard, data on the effects of NM on plants under abiotic stressors are of great interest. Separate section is devoted to the use of NM as adaptogens that increase plant stress tolerance to unfavorable temperatures. Possible mechanisms of NM effects on plants are discussed, as well as the strategies for their further use in basic science and sustainable agriculture.

Impact of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle and liquid leachate of mushroom compost on agronomic and biochemical response of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) under saline stress

The cultivation of ornamental horticultural crops under salinity stress has been a challenge for growers all over the world. In this study, an attempt was made for pot cultivation of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L. var. Pusa Basanti Gainda) in salt-stressed (SS) soil (150 mM) with the combined use of mushroom compost leachate (CL) and foliar application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs). For this purpose, a total of six pot treatments, i.e., borewell water (BW; control), T1 (BW with SS), T2 (BW with SS and TiO2-NPs), T3 (CL supplemented), T4 (CL with SS), and T5 (CL with SS and TiO2-NPs) were conducted in triplicate. The results of this study showed that CL supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) improved the physicochemical i.e., pH (14.5%), electrical conductivity (32.9%), total nitrogen (27.4%), total phosphorus (247.6%)), and nutrient (organic matter: 119.6%) profiles of soil which later helped in higher growth (30-35%) and yield (5.4-40.7%) of T. erecta. In CL-based treatments, the biochemical constituents were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in BW-irrigated ones. Also, the levels of selected stress defense enzymes were significantly increased under SS treatment but reduced under TiO2-NP application. Overall, it was observed that the combined application of CL and TiO2-NPs (T5 treatment) was the most helpful treatment for enhanced germination, growth, yield, biochemical parameters, and better plant enzymatic activities to cope with saline stress. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of T. erecta plants under saline stress which is crucial for the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving plant tolerance to saline conditions.

Unraveling the impact of nanopollution on plant metabolism and ecosystem dynamics

Nanopollution (NPOs), a burgeoning consequence of the widespread use of nanoparticles (NPs) across diverse industrial and consumer domains, has emerged as a critical environmental issue. While extensive research has scrutinized the repercussions of NPs pollution on ecosystems and human health, scant attention has been directed towards unraveling its implications for plant life. This comprehensive review aims to bridge this gap by delving into the nuanced interplay between NPOs and plant metabolism, encompassing both primary and secondary processes. Our exploration encompasses an in-depth analysis of the intricate mechanisms governing the interaction between plants and NPs. This involves a thorough examination of how physicochemical properties such as size, shape, and surface characteristics influence the uptake and translocation of NPs within plant tissues. The impact of NPOs on primary metabolic processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient uptake, and water transport. Additionally, this study explored the multifaceted alterations in secondary metabolism, shedding light on the synthesis and modulation of secondary metabolites in response to NPs exposure. In assessing the consequences of NPOs for plant life, we scrutinize the potential implications for plant growth, development, and environmental interactions. The intricate relationships revealed in this review underscore the need for a holistic understanding of the plant-NPs dynamics. As NPs become increasingly prevalent in ecosystems, this investigation establishes a fundamental guide that underscores the importance of additional research to shape sustainable environmental management strategies and address the extensive effects of NPs on the development of plant life and environmental interactions.

Toxicological effects of nanoparticles in plants: Mechanisms involved at morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular levels

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has led to unprecedented innovations across diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, electronics, textiles, and food, owing to the unique properties of nanoparticles. The extensive production and unregulated release of synthetic nanoparticles may contribute to nanopollution within the ecosystem. In the agricultural sector, nanotechnology is increasingly utilized to improve plant productivity, enhance resistance to stressors, and reduce the usage of chemicals. However, the uncontrolled discharge of nanoparticles into the natural environment raises concerns regarding possible plant toxicological impacts. The review focuses on the translocation of these particles within the plants, emphasizing their phytotoxicological effects at morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Eventhough the beneficial aspects of these nanoparticles are evident, excessive usage of nanoparticles at higher concentrations may lead to potential adverse effects. The phytotoxicity resulting from excessive amounts of nanoparticles affects seed germination and biomass production, disrupts the photosynthesis system, induces oxidative stress, impacts cell membrane integrity, alters gene expression, causes DNA damage, and leads to epigenetic variations in plants. Nanoparticles are found to directly associate with the cell membrane and cell organelles, leading to the dissolution and release of toxic ions, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative stress. The present study signifies and accumulates knowledge regarding the application of nanoparticles in agriculture and illustrates a clear picture of their possible impacts on plants and soil microbes, thereby paving the way for future developments in nano-agrotechnology. The review concludes by addressing current challenges and proposing future directions to comprehend and mitigate the possible biological risks associated with nanoparticles in agriculture.

Impact of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Environment on the Metabolic Profile of Medicinal Plants and Their Therapeutic Potential

The paper provides a comprehensive examination of heavy metal stress on medicinal plants, focusing on its impact on antioxidant capacity and biosynthetic pathways critical to their therapeutic potential. It explores the complex relationship between heavy metals and the physiological and biochemical responses of medicinal plants, highlighting how metal stress disrupts biosynthetic pathways, altering concentrations of secondary metabolites. This disruption may compromise the overall quality and efficacy of medicinal plants, requiring a holistic understanding of its cumulative impacts. Furthermore, the study discusses the potential of targeted genetic editing to enhance plant resilience against heavy metal stress by manipulating genes associated with antioxidant defenses. This approach represents a promising frontier in safeguarding medicinal plants in metal-contaminated environments. Additionally, the research investigates the role of phytohormone signaling in plant adaptive mechanisms to heavy metal stress, revealing its influence on biochemical and physiological responses, thereby adding complexity to plant adaptation. The study underscores the importance of innovative technologies and global cooperation in protecting medicinal plants' therapeutic potential and highlights the need for mitigation strategies to address heavy metal contamination effectively.