significant mortality after 3 days of continuous exposure to nanostructured aluminatreated wheat. Recently, Ziaee and Ganji (2016) reported that silicon nanoparticles
were also effective in controlling wheat grain pests. The authors revealed that the
initial mortality was so high that the impact of food source on delay mortality was
unclear in most cases. Overall, it seems that as compared to commercially available
insecticides, nanoproducts may provide a cheap and reliable alternative for control of
insect pests, and such studies may expand the frontiers for nanoparticle-based
technologies in wheat pest management in the future.
5.5 Abiotic Stress Alleviation
Abiotic stresses are the principal limiting factors for decline in wheat productivity
(Grayson 2013). Major abiotic stress factors include drought, extreme temperature,
salinity and acidic conditions, light intensity, submergence, anaerobiosis, nutrient
starvation, etc. (Bailey-Serres and Voesenek 2008; Agarwal and Grover 2006;
Nakashima and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki 2006). Drought, flood, salinity, mineral deficiency, acidity, and cold has affected 64%, 13%, 6%, 9%, 15%, and 57% of the
global land area (Cramer et al. 2011; Mittler 2006). Out of the world’s 5.2 billion
hectares of dryland agriculture, 3.6 billion hectares is affected by the problems of
erosion, soil degradation, and salinity (Riadh et al. 2010). Ruan et al. (2010)
estimated salt-affected soils to impact upon 50% of total irrigated land in the
world costing 12 billion US dollars in terms of loss (Flowers et al. 2010). Similarly,
global annual cost of land degradation by salinity in irrigated lands could be
27.3 billion US dollars due to loss in crop production (Qadir et al. 2014). Several
metal- or metal oxide-based nanoparticles are being studied to assess potential
applications in wheat protection from abiotic stresses (Table 5.3), and details of
which are summarized in the following sections.
5.5.1 Drought
Drought is a severe environmental stress and the major constraint on wheat productivity with an evident effect on growth (Abid et al. 2017; Nezhadahmadi et al. 2013;
Rampino et al. 2006). Global climate models predict changed precipitation patterns
with frequent episodes of drought. Although drought impedes wheat performance at
all growth stages, it is more critical during the flowering and grain-filling phases
(terminal drought) and results in substantial yield losses. For instance, post-anthesis
mild
at yields by 1–30 per cent, while prolonged mild drought at flowering and grain
filling reduced the grain yields by 58–92% (Farooq et al. 2014). The effects of
terminal drought on wheat yields are likely to increase in the near future (Araus et al.
2002; Dias de Oliveria et al. 2013).
5 Nanotechnology in Wheat Production and Protection
177
were also effective in controlling wheat grain pests. The authors revealed that the
initial mortality was so high that the impact of food source on delay mortality was
unclear in most cases. Overall, it seems that as compared to commercially available
insecticides, nanoproducts may provide a cheap and reliable alternative for control of
insect pests, and such studies may expand the frontiers for nanoparticle-based
technologies in wheat pest management in the future.
5.5 Abiotic Stress Alleviation
Abiotic stresses are the principal limiting factors for decline in wheat productivity
(Grayson 2013). Major abiotic stress factors include drought, extreme temperature,
salinity and acidic conditions, light intensity, submergence, anaerobiosis, nutrient
starvation, etc. (Bailey-Serres and Voesenek 2008; Agarwal and Grover 2006;
Nakashima and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki 2006). Drought, flood, salinity, mineral deficiency, acidity, and cold has affected 64%, 13%, 6%, 9%, 15%, and 57% of the
global land area (Cramer et al. 2011; Mittler 2006). Out of the world’s 5.2 billion
hectares of dryland agriculture, 3.6 billion hectares is affected by the problems of
erosion, soil degradation, and salinity (Riadh et al. 2010). Ruan et al. (2010)
estimated salt-affected soils to impact upon 50% of total irrigated land in the
world costing 12 billion US dollars in terms of loss (Flowers et al. 2010). Similarly,
global annual cost of land degradation by salinity in irrigated lands could be
27.3 billion US dollars due to loss in crop production (Qadir et al. 2014). Several
metal- or metal oxide-based nanoparticles are being studied to assess potential
applications in wheat protection from abiotic stresses (Table 5.3), and details of
which are summarized in the following sections.
5.5.1 Drought
Drought is a severe environmental stress and the major constraint on wheat productivity with an evident effect on growth (Abid et al. 2017; Nezhadahmadi et al. 2013;
Rampino et al. 2006). Global climate models predict changed precipitation patterns
with frequent episodes of drought. Although drought impedes wheat performance at
all growth stages, it is more critical during the flowering and grain-filling phases
(terminal drought) and results in substantial yield losses. For instance, post-anthesis
mild
at yields by 1–30 per cent, while prolonged mild drought at flowering and grain
filling reduced the grain yields by 58–92% (Farooq et al. 2014). The effects of
terminal drought on wheat yields are likely to increase in the near future (Araus et al.
2002; Dias de Oliveria et al. 2013).
5 Nanotechnology in Wheat Production and Protection
177