Current trends in nano-technological interventions on plant growth and development: a review

Abstract

Nanomaterials, recently have found burgeoning attention in the field of agriculture, owing to the positive correlation between nanoparticle (NP) application and the enhanced nutritional status of the applied plants. A wide range of NPs, namely carbon-based NPs, titanium dioxide NPs, silica NPs etc. has been found to influence plants in a positive way by increasing their nutrient uptake ratio, nutrient usage efficiency, among others. All these attributes have paved the way for possible improvement in plant growth, development, vigour etc. through the use of these NPs, mainly as nanofertiliser. In view of all these, it can also be concluded that in the global scenario of increased demand of food production and supply in the coming years, nanotechnology promises to play a critical role. In this review, an attempt has been made to consolidate all the positive trends with respect to application of NPs on plants, along with their probable mechanism of action, which may provide a comprehensive insight for researchers working in this field.

Fig. 1

Nanoparticles are present in various forms in natural phenomena

Fig. 2

Unique physicochemical properties of NPs, mostly attributed of their nano‐scale size

Fig. 3

Carbon‐based NPs, namely CNTs, wsCNOs and fullerols have been reported to increase water uptake in plants post‐treatment followed by enhanced plant biomass, growth and germination in tomato plants and tobacco cells. These NPs bring about changes in aquaporin water channels and form an ‘aligned network’ within the vascular bundle of the plants, both of which facilitate water uptake efficiency. Mechanism of action by alteration in gene expression has also been reported

Fig. 4

TiO₂ NPs, in the presence of UV rays of sunlight acts as effective photocatalyst promoting seed germination as well as growth

Fig. 5

SiO₂ NPs typically bring about increased growth parameters in root, seedling, seed germination and also salinity stress tolerance

Fig. 6

Several NPs, namely AuNPs, ZnO NPs, TiO₂ NPs and SiO₂ NPs have been shown to augment seed growth, germination rate and percentage, seedling growth, root: shoot indices and seedling biomass in many crops such as spinach, onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, peanut, alfalfa, soybean, canola, wheat etc.