of imidacloprid against the soybean pests Melanagromyza sojae and Bemisia tabaci.
The results of studies showed that nanocapsules are more effective than conventional
formulations already at a lower dose and do not form any residues in crops or in the
soil. The high potential that nanocapsules also have against Myzus persicae has been
shown Kang et al. (2012).
Nanotechnology is also used to improve the effectiveness of herbicides (Prasad
et al. 2014). The main direction being investigated here is the method of formulation
that can be used for conventional and natural herbicides. Nanoencapsulated or
NP-embedded herbicides, like the other pesticides, show greater effectiveness over
time and at low doses. The secured or embedded AI is introduced into the environment at a lower dose and, working more effectively than conventional herbicides,
has a lesser impact on the environment. Kumar et al. (2017) using nanoparticles of
pectin (polysaccharides) loaded with herbicide (metsulfuron-methyl) under laboratory and field conditions showed that they are highly effective against Chenopodium
and found that they can be used as a substitute for conventional herbicides with an
effect on reducing the consumption of AIs and thus on environmental safety. At the
same time, nanoemulsions of the controversial substance glyphosate showed slightly
higher effectiveness against tested weeds than the commercial preparation Roundup
(Jiang et al. 2012; Lim et al. 2013). Chi et al. (2017), studying nanocomposites
containing glyphosate, found that that formulation allows not only for the controlled
release of AIs but also creates a profile for the release of herbicide at a controlled
temperature, which reduces losses of AI in the event of precipitation. A small dose,
controlled release, and a totally natural herbicide is an excellent solution for weed
control, which can be achieved by using nanoformulations of a substance of plant
origin, e.g., essential oils. Apart from those mentioned above, other additional
benefits resulting from the use of such herbicides is the absence of any effect on
pollinators and a repellent effect on harmful insects (Kumar et al. 2017). Hazrati
et al. (2017) have developed a nanoemulsion of the essential oil Satureja hortensis
(carvacrol), which proved to be effective against Chenopodium album and
Amaranthus retroflexus. The activity of nanoemulsions of essential oils of plants
may consist of disrupting the germination, the physiological processes, and the
growth of weeds.
Searching for effective means of eliminating phytopathogens is another direction
of studies in the field of the application of nanotechnology in plant protection. It has
been shown that NPs of metal, especially of silver and copper, can also be used as
fungicides (Lee et al. 2013; Gopinath and Velusamy 2013; Mishra et al. 2014; Adil
et al. 2015; Gupta et al. 2018). Already a decade ago, Bergeson (2010) found over
100 pesticides which contain Ag to have been commercialized due to its strong
antimicrobial properties. The biological activity of NPs against pathogens may
outweigh the effects exhibited by classic bacterio- and fungicides (Morones et al.
2005). Silver is able to kill 650 pathogens, which are the cause of diseases (Jeong
et al. 2005; Holt and Bard 2005; Shrivastava et al. 2007). Silver has an oligodynamic
effect, in other words, it works even in minute concentrations (Percival et al. 2005).
In turn, copper is the oldest fungicide there is and is one of the few whose use is
permitted in organic agriculture. There are numerous examples of the biocidal
activity of NPs with regard to phytopathogenic microorganisms under controlled
8
A. Gorczyca et al.
The results of studies showed that nanocapsules are more effective than conventional
formulations already at a lower dose and do not form any residues in crops or in the
soil. The high potential that nanocapsules also have against Myzus persicae has been
shown Kang et al. (2012).
Nanotechnology is also used to improve the effectiveness of herbicides (Prasad
et al. 2014). The main direction being investigated here is the method of formulation
that can be used for conventional and natural herbicides. Nanoencapsulated or
NP-embedded herbicides, like the other pesticides, show greater effectiveness over
time and at low doses. The secured or embedded AI is introduced into the environment at a lower dose and, working more effectively than conventional herbicides,
has a lesser impact on the environment. Kumar et al. (2017) using nanoparticles of
pectin (polysaccharides) loaded with herbicide (metsulfuron-methyl) under laboratory and field conditions showed that they are highly effective against Chenopodium
and found that they can be used as a substitute for conventional herbicides with an
effect on reducing the consumption of AIs and thus on environmental safety. At the
same time, nanoemulsions of the controversial substance glyphosate showed slightly
higher effectiveness against tested weeds than the commercial preparation Roundup
(Jiang et al. 2012; Lim et al. 2013). Chi et al. (2017), studying nanocomposites
containing glyphosate, found that that formulation allows not only for the controlled
release of AIs but also creates a profile for the release of herbicide at a controlled
temperature, which reduces losses of AI in the event of precipitation. A small dose,
controlled release, and a totally natural herbicide is an excellent solution for weed
control, which can be achieved by using nanoformulations of a substance of plant
origin, e.g., essential oils. Apart from those mentioned above, other additional
benefits resulting from the use of such herbicides is the absence of any effect on
pollinators and a repellent effect on harmful insects (Kumar et al. 2017). Hazrati
et al. (2017) have developed a nanoemulsion of the essential oil Satureja hortensis
(carvacrol), which proved to be effective against Chenopodium album and
Amaranthus retroflexus. The activity of nanoemulsions of essential oils of plants
may consist of disrupting the germination, the physiological processes, and the
growth of weeds.
Searching for effective means of eliminating phytopathogens is another direction
of studies in the field of the application of nanotechnology in plant protection. It has
been shown that NPs of metal, especially of silver and copper, can also be used as
fungicides (Lee et al. 2013; Gopinath and Velusamy 2013; Mishra et al. 2014; Adil
et al. 2015; Gupta et al. 2018). Already a decade ago, Bergeson (2010) found over
100 pesticides which contain Ag to have been commercialized due to its strong
antimicrobial properties. The biological activity of NPs against pathogens may
outweigh the effects exhibited by classic bacterio- and fungicides (Morones et al.
2005). Silver is able to kill 650 pathogens, which are the cause of diseases (Jeong
et al. 2005; Holt and Bard 2005; Shrivastava et al. 2007). Silver has an oligodynamic
effect, in other words, it works even in minute concentrations (Percival et al. 2005).
In turn, copper is the oldest fungicide there is and is one of the few whose use is
permitted in organic agriculture. There are numerous examples of the biocidal
activity of NPs with regard to phytopathogenic microorganisms under controlled
8
A. Gorczyca et al.