in plants, thereby assisting plant growth (Manjaiah et al.
2018). Application of NFs in Triticum aestivum decreased
the life cycle in plants from 170 to 130 days. This decrease
could be utilized to harvest the crops quicker in scenario of
climate change (Abdel-Aziz et al. 2016). NMs could be
applied to soils to remove the pollutants. Application of Si
NPs to Oryza sativa enhances its tolerance to cadmium stress
(Wang et al. 2015b). Si NPs were stated to improve tolerance to cadmium, lead, copper and zinc stress in Oryza
sativa (Wang et al. 2016).
Pest attack could increase during the outbreak of an
environmental hazard. NMs have been reported to tackle
pests efficiently. Silver NPs have strong antibacterial properties helping the plants in facing pathogenic attack (Vanti
et al. 2019). NMs, like ZnO, CuO and MgO, and NPs, like
Cu, Ag and Zn, have been stated to control spread and
occurrence of multiple diseases caused by microorganisms
in the plants (Giannousi et al. 2013; Malandrakis et al. 2019;
Vanti et al. 2019). Additionally, nanocomposites, like silver
laden chitosan NMs, enriched with fungicides could enhance
antifungal properties in the plants and soil (Le et al. 2019).
The various NMs could increase enzymatic activity,
enabling the plants to tolerate stress. NPs, like ZnO and
SiO 2 , boost activity of stress relieving enzymes, like peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, thereby aiding in stress
tolerance escalation (Shalaby et al. 2016). NMs have been
stated to regulate expression of the genes under stress,
helping in plant protection (Onaga and Wydra 2016). Silver
NPs were shown to aid regulation of genetic expression in
Arabidopsis, which could aid in protecting the plants from
stress (Banerjee and Kole 2016).
11 Conclusion
Nanotechnology could be used in various ways to enhance
the crop production across the world. Nanofertilizers,
nanopesticides, nanoherbicides and nanosensors application
to soils could be preferred over conventional use of agrochemicals, to tackle food security and boost the production
of crops. They would achieve this by enhancing seed germination, boosting nutrient levels, detecting pest attack,
identifying disease prevalence, enhancing photosynthesis,
remediating polluted lands, filtering polluted water and
facing changes in climatic conditions. Nano-robots could be
utilized for identifying the deficiency of nutrients and
moisture content in soil. The NPs harvested from the plants
could be used in various industries for a wide variety of
applications. Although NMs and NPs have been shown to be
harmless to the environment and living organisms, nanotechnology is an unfolding and expanding field, and there
could be potential damages waiting to unfurl because of the
ambiguous chemical properties of NMs. It is very critical to
proceed with the nanoscale technologies keeping in the mind
the hidden issues involved and the plethora of advantages it
possesses.
Fig. 5 Harvesting nanomaterials
and nanoparticles
Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production …
41
2018). Application of NFs in Triticum aestivum decreased
the life cycle in plants from 170 to 130 days. This decrease
could be utilized to harvest the crops quicker in scenario of
climate change (Abdel-Aziz et al. 2016). NMs could be
applied to soils to remove the pollutants. Application of Si
NPs to Oryza sativa enhances its tolerance to cadmium stress
(Wang et al. 2015b). Si NPs were stated to improve tolerance to cadmium, lead, copper and zinc stress in Oryza
sativa (Wang et al. 2016).
Pest attack could increase during the outbreak of an
environmental hazard. NMs have been reported to tackle
pests efficiently. Silver NPs have strong antibacterial properties helping the plants in facing pathogenic attack (Vanti
et al. 2019). NMs, like ZnO, CuO and MgO, and NPs, like
Cu, Ag and Zn, have been stated to control spread and
occurrence of multiple diseases caused by microorganisms
in the plants (Giannousi et al. 2013; Malandrakis et al. 2019;
Vanti et al. 2019). Additionally, nanocomposites, like silver
laden chitosan NMs, enriched with fungicides could enhance
antifungal properties in the plants and soil (Le et al. 2019).
The various NMs could increase enzymatic activity,
enabling the plants to tolerate stress. NPs, like ZnO and
SiO 2 , boost activity of stress relieving enzymes, like peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, thereby aiding in stress
tolerance escalation (Shalaby et al. 2016). NMs have been
stated to regulate expression of the genes under stress,
helping in plant protection (Onaga and Wydra 2016). Silver
NPs were shown to aid regulation of genetic expression in
Arabidopsis, which could aid in protecting the plants from
stress (Banerjee and Kole 2016).
11 Conclusion
Nanotechnology could be used in various ways to enhance
the crop production across the world. Nanofertilizers,
nanopesticides, nanoherbicides and nanosensors application
to soils could be preferred over conventional use of agrochemicals, to tackle food security and boost the production
of crops. They would achieve this by enhancing seed germination, boosting nutrient levels, detecting pest attack,
identifying disease prevalence, enhancing photosynthesis,
remediating polluted lands, filtering polluted water and
facing changes in climatic conditions. Nano-robots could be
utilized for identifying the deficiency of nutrients and
moisture content in soil. The NPs harvested from the plants
could be used in various industries for a wide variety of
applications. Although NMs and NPs have been shown to be
harmless to the environment and living organisms, nanotechnology is an unfolding and expanding field, and there
could be potential damages waiting to unfurl because of the
ambiguous chemical properties of NMs. It is very critical to
proceed with the nanoscale technologies keeping in the mind
the hidden issues involved and the plethora of advantages it
possesses.
Fig. 5 Harvesting nanomaterials
and nanoparticles
Nanotechnology for Sustainable Crop Production …
41