conditions. Laboratory tests have shown the potential of AgNPs produced using a
physical and chemical method in controlling Fusarium (Kasprowicz et al. 2010,
Gorczyca et al. 2015). AgNPs change the metabolism of fungi and can stimulate the
production of pigments (Kasprowicz et al. 2013). Aguilar-Mendez et al. (2011)
showed that AgNPs significantly inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum
gloeosporioides. AgNPs also showed an inhibitory effect on the germination of
spores of Bipolaris and Magnaporthe, which are pathogens of cereals (Jo et al.
2009). Lamsal et al. (2011) observed a decrease in the incidence of powdery mildew
on cucumber and pumpkin caused by the fungal species Golovinomyces
cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fusca, after the application of AgNPs. Boxi
et al. (2016) combined TiO 2 NPs with pure and Ag doped (solid and hollow) to
provide an effective means of controlling Fusarium solani and Venturia inaequalis.
AgNPs have also been shown to have a broad spectrum of action against wooddegrading fungi, i.e., against Gloeophyllum abietinum, Gloeophyllum trabeum,
Chaetomium globosum, and Phanerochaete sordida (Narayanan and Park 2014).
Kanhed et al. (2014) have demonstrated the effectiveness of CuNPs against
Curvularia lunata, Phoma destructiva, and Alternaria alternata. Saharan et al.
(2013), using Cu-chitosan NPs, were able to inhibit the growth and development
of Alternaria alternate, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Rhizoctonia solani.
Even NPs, which are produced by the biological method with the use of fungi,
bacteria, algae, or plants, show biocidal action against phytopathogens (Pantidos and
Horsfall 2014; Elbeshehy et al. 2015; Sabri et al. 2016; Aziz et al. 2016; Prasad et al.
2016; Srivastava et al. 2021). AgNPs have the capacity to form ROS, which cause
irreversible damage to bacteria, and also have a strong affinity to bind with DNA or
RNA, which interferes with the replication of microorganisms (Aziz et al. 2015,
2019). Like AgNPs, CuNPs can also be used as antibacterial agents (Yadav et al.
2017). It has been found that bimetal NPs (Ag and Cu) display better antibacterial
activity than NPs of a single metal (Zain et al. 2014). In turn, a difference in the
surface charge of NPs may have an influence on the total community of bacteria in
the rhizoplane of the plants. NPs with a positive charge may reduce the total amount
of bacteria in contrast to negatively charged NPs, which lead to an increase in the
amount of these microorganisms (Gorczyca et al. 2018).
In summary, it is worth underlining that many studies have shown that
nanopesticides
(nanoinsecticides,
nanoherbicides,
nanofungicides,
nanobacteriocides) pose less of a threat to people and the environment (de Oliveira
et al. 2014; Kah and Hofmann 2014; Kumar et al. 2015; Bhattacharyya et al. 2016;
Grillo et al. 2016; Nuruzzaman et al. 2016; Wais et al. 2016).
Without a doubt though, from the point of view of protection of the environment,
it is most useful to deploy nanotechnology in the detection of undesirable
compounds or in precision agriculture. Sensors are used in both these fields. These
devices are usually not in themselves nanostructures but make use of the unique
properties of nanocompounds, which are elements of their structure and can be parts
or coatings.
Precision agriculture is a technique which uses information technology to manage
crops in order to maximize production while limiting inputs (fertilizers, pesticides,
water, etc.). This is achieved by precise monitoring of the environment and a
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
9
physical and chemical method in controlling Fusarium (Kasprowicz et al. 2010,
Gorczyca et al. 2015). AgNPs change the metabolism of fungi and can stimulate the
production of pigments (Kasprowicz et al. 2013). Aguilar-Mendez et al. (2011)
showed that AgNPs significantly inhibit the growth of Colletotrichum
gloeosporioides. AgNPs also showed an inhibitory effect on the germination of
spores of Bipolaris and Magnaporthe, which are pathogens of cereals (Jo et al.
2009). Lamsal et al. (2011) observed a decrease in the incidence of powdery mildew
on cucumber and pumpkin caused by the fungal species Golovinomyces
cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fusca, after the application of AgNPs. Boxi
et al. (2016) combined TiO 2 NPs with pure and Ag doped (solid and hollow) to
provide an effective means of controlling Fusarium solani and Venturia inaequalis.
AgNPs have also been shown to have a broad spectrum of action against wooddegrading fungi, i.e., against Gloeophyllum abietinum, Gloeophyllum trabeum,
Chaetomium globosum, and Phanerochaete sordida (Narayanan and Park 2014).
Kanhed et al. (2014) have demonstrated the effectiveness of CuNPs against
Curvularia lunata, Phoma destructiva, and Alternaria alternata. Saharan et al.
(2013), using Cu-chitosan NPs, were able to inhibit the growth and development
of Alternaria alternate, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Rhizoctonia solani.
Even NPs, which are produced by the biological method with the use of fungi,
bacteria, algae, or plants, show biocidal action against phytopathogens (Pantidos and
Horsfall 2014; Elbeshehy et al. 2015; Sabri et al. 2016; Aziz et al. 2016; Prasad et al.
2016; Srivastava et al. 2021). AgNPs have the capacity to form ROS, which cause
irreversible damage to bacteria, and also have a strong affinity to bind with DNA or
RNA, which interferes with the replication of microorganisms (Aziz et al. 2015,
2019). Like AgNPs, CuNPs can also be used as antibacterial agents (Yadav et al.
2017). It has been found that bimetal NPs (Ag and Cu) display better antibacterial
activity than NPs of a single metal (Zain et al. 2014). In turn, a difference in the
surface charge of NPs may have an influence on the total community of bacteria in
the rhizoplane of the plants. NPs with a positive charge may reduce the total amount
of bacteria in contrast to negatively charged NPs, which lead to an increase in the
amount of these microorganisms (Gorczyca et al. 2018).
In summary, it is worth underlining that many studies have shown that
nanopesticides
(nanoinsecticides,
nanoherbicides,
nanofungicides,
nanobacteriocides) pose less of a threat to people and the environment (de Oliveira
et al. 2014; Kah and Hofmann 2014; Kumar et al. 2015; Bhattacharyya et al. 2016;
Grillo et al. 2016; Nuruzzaman et al. 2016; Wais et al. 2016).
Without a doubt though, from the point of view of protection of the environment,
it is most useful to deploy nanotechnology in the detection of undesirable
compounds or in precision agriculture. Sensors are used in both these fields. These
devices are usually not in themselves nanostructures but make use of the unique
properties of nanocompounds, which are elements of their structure and can be parts
or coatings.
Precision agriculture is a technique which uses information technology to manage
crops in order to maximize production while limiting inputs (fertilizers, pesticides,
water, etc.). This is achieved by precise monitoring of the environment and a
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
9