Dynamic interplay between nano-enabled agrochemicals and the plant-associated microbiome

Abstract

The plant-associated microbiome is known to be a critical component for crop growth, nutrient acquisition, resistance to pathogens, and abiotic stress tolerance. Conventional approaches have been attempted to manipulate the plant-soil microbiome to improve plant performance; however, several issues have arisen, such as collateral negative impacts on microbiota composition. The lack of reliability and robustness of conventional techniques warrants efforts to develop novel alternative strategies. Nano-enabled approaches have emerged as promising platforms for enhancing agricultural sustainability and global food security. Specifically, the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) as nanoscale agrochemicals has great potential to modulate the plant-associated microbiome. We review the dynamic interplay between nano-agrochemicals and the plant-associated microbiome for the safe development and use of nano-enabled microbiome engineering.

Keywords: agriculture sustainability; microbiome engineering; nano-agrochemicals; stress resilience.