Nanotechnology and Crop Protection: A Review of Principles and Prospects

Abstract

Nanoparticles have numerous applications in agriculture, because of their great mobility in plant and animal cells and high penetrability. It has the ability to close the gap between farming that is sustainable and farming that is not. A significant issue in agricultural systems is post-harvest losses, which have been demonstrated to be decreased using nanomaterials. Ultra-small particles, known as nanoparticles, have distinct physical, chemical and biological characteristics. It has been discovered that nanopesticides and nanoinsecticides have improved pesticidal and insecticidal characteristics, can supplement traditional pesticides and are anticipated to completely transform pest management in the near future. Specific antibacterial potentials exist in nanoemulsions, nanoliposomes, edible coatings and other forms of nanoparticles like nanosensors that are used to facilitate the measurement and monitoring of crop production as well as the control of pests, diseases, insect attacks and environmental contaminants. The agricultural system makes extensive use of nanoparticles, particularly for plant infection prevention. Due to their small sizes, nanoparticles interact with plant pathogens more effectively and display their antibacterial properties when exposed to various bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. Agricultural research using nanotechnology has recently focused on diagnosing plants, boosting output and developing new disease-resistant varieties. It has the potential to improve agricultural productivity, reduce disease tolerance, speed up the identification of plant illnesses and reduce input costs. In this review paper, the fundamentals, practices and future possibilities of nanotechnology in crop protection have been discussed.