distinctive physical and chemical characteristics. Nanotechnological application in
plant pathology offers new insights toward crop protection. Nanoparticles stay
bound to the pathogen cell wall and causes malformation because of more energy
transfer and ultimately causing its death. Nanomaterials accomplish the two vital
aspects of disease management: first, efficiency with negligible ecological effect
and reduced toxicity to human health (Mousavi and Rezaei 2011). Nanomaterial
can be used in plant protection through controlled release of encapsulated pesticide
against pests and pathogens, timely detection of plant diseases and pollutants from
pesticide residues by nanosensors (Ghormade et al. 2011). Nanomaterials are used
efficiently for safe administration of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers at lower
doses to cover big plant surfaces and thousands of plants (Kuzma and VerHage
2006). Nanopesticide formulations improve the solubility of less soluble active
compound and aid in releasing the active compound gradually (Kah et al. 2012).
Nanoparticles are packed with pesticides and released gradually depending on the
need (Lauterwasser 2005). As nanoscale products are highly reactive as compared
to the bulk material, very less amount of nanocides shows improved effect in crop
protection (Debnath et al. 2011). Nanoencapsulation of pesticide for measured and
effective release to a specific host plant for pest control lets the chemical to be
correctly adsorbed by plants (Scrinis and Lyons 2007). The way through which the
nanomaterials are absorbed into the plants and their subsequent movement within
plant tissues and organs is very important while formulating the nanoproduct. The
formulation varies depending on the absorption of active ingredient through leaves
or roots of plants. Root can easily absorb nanocides, but if the nanomaterial is
imbibed through leaves, then better efficiency will be obtained. Nanosensors can
be used to detect soilborne disease through the amount of different oxygen
demands of microbes in the soil. The application of nanomaterial in plant protection has been given in Table 9.3.
9.2.4 Food Processing/Packaging Processing/Export
Potential of Ethnic Foods
Nanotechnology has immense potential to reform food systems besides agriculture
(Rashidi and Khosravi-Darani 2011). The nanoscale level of foods affects efficiency,
safety, bioavailability, and nutritive value of novel food products and ingredients
(Aguilera 2005). Main areas of nanotechnology application in food science include
improving processing and food security, absorbable plant nutrients, taste and nutrition, distribution methods, functionality of diets, pathogen detection, environmental
protection, and low-cost storage and dissemination (Rashidi and Khosravi-Darani
2011). The main areas of nanotechnology applications in food production are given
in Table 9.4. Application of nanotechnology in food industry (Rashidi and KhosraviDarani 2011) has been given in Fig. 9.2.
332
P. Pramanik et al.
plant pathology offers new insights toward crop protection. Nanoparticles stay
bound to the pathogen cell wall and causes malformation because of more energy
transfer and ultimately causing its death. Nanomaterials accomplish the two vital
aspects of disease management: first, efficiency with negligible ecological effect
and reduced toxicity to human health (Mousavi and Rezaei 2011). Nanomaterial
can be used in plant protection through controlled release of encapsulated pesticide
against pests and pathogens, timely detection of plant diseases and pollutants from
pesticide residues by nanosensors (Ghormade et al. 2011). Nanomaterials are used
efficiently for safe administration of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers at lower
doses to cover big plant surfaces and thousands of plants (Kuzma and VerHage
2006). Nanopesticide formulations improve the solubility of less soluble active
compound and aid in releasing the active compound gradually (Kah et al. 2012).
Nanoparticles are packed with pesticides and released gradually depending on the
need (Lauterwasser 2005). As nanoscale products are highly reactive as compared
to the bulk material, very less amount of nanocides shows improved effect in crop
protection (Debnath et al. 2011). Nanoencapsulation of pesticide for measured and
effective release to a specific host plant for pest control lets the chemical to be
correctly adsorbed by plants (Scrinis and Lyons 2007). The way through which the
nanomaterials are absorbed into the plants and their subsequent movement within
plant tissues and organs is very important while formulating the nanoproduct. The
formulation varies depending on the absorption of active ingredient through leaves
or roots of plants. Root can easily absorb nanocides, but if the nanomaterial is
imbibed through leaves, then better efficiency will be obtained. Nanosensors can
be used to detect soilborne disease through the amount of different oxygen
demands of microbes in the soil. The application of nanomaterial in plant protection has been given in Table 9.3.
9.2.4 Food Processing/Packaging Processing/Export
Potential of Ethnic Foods
Nanotechnology has immense potential to reform food systems besides agriculture
(Rashidi and Khosravi-Darani 2011). The nanoscale level of foods affects efficiency,
safety, bioavailability, and nutritive value of novel food products and ingredients
(Aguilera 2005). Main areas of nanotechnology application in food science include
improving processing and food security, absorbable plant nutrients, taste and nutrition, distribution methods, functionality of diets, pathogen detection, environmental
protection, and low-cost storage and dissemination (Rashidi and Khosravi-Darani
2011). The main areas of nanotechnology applications in food production are given
in Table 9.4. Application of nanotechnology in food industry (Rashidi and KhosraviDarani 2011) has been given in Fig. 9.2.
332
P. Pramanik et al.