Nanotechnology Applications in Agriculture and Plant Health
Summary
Nanotechnology harnesses materials at the scale of one to one hundred nanometres to revolutionise agricultural practices and plant health management. By virtue of their high surface-area-to-volume ratio and tunable surface chemistry, nanoparticles can serve as precision delivery vehicles for nutrients, pesticides and genes, enabling lower application rates and reduced environmental impact. Nanosensors integrated into soil and foliar platforms facilitate real-time monitoring of moisture, nutrient status and pathogen presence, while nanoformulations can improve the solubility and stability of agrochemicals. In addition, tailored nanomaterials can modulate plant immunity and stress tolerance through targeted interactions with signalling pathways, offering resilience against biotic and abiotic challenges. These advances hold global significance for food security, resource efficiency and sustainable intensification of agricultural systems.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have revealed that titania nanoparticles form an effective interface for the application of growth-promoting rhizobacteria, stabilising bacterial inoculants and enhancing root colonisation under drought, salinity and pathogen pressure. This nanomaterial-assisted formulation led to increased seedling biomass and more consistent performance of beneficial microbes in controlled soil environments. Such findings illustrate a novel strategy to design nanointerfaces that facilitate plant–microbe interactions, paving the way for scalable, soil-compatible microbial delivery systems in sustainable crop production.
Nanotechnology Applications in Agriculture and Plant Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in agriculture and plant health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanoparticle: Particle with dimensions in the nanometre scale, typically between 1 and 100 nm.
Rhizobacteria: Beneficial microorganisms inhabiting the root zone that promote plant growth and health.
Systemic acquired resistance: A plant-wide defensive state induced by local exposure to a pathogen or elicitor.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that function in signalling and stress responses.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade: A sequential kinase signalling pathway that transduces extracellular stimuli into cellular responses.
Nanopriming: Seed treatment with nanoparticles to improve germination rate and early seedling vigour.
Green synthesis: Sustainable nanoparticle production using plant or microbial extracts as reducing and stabilising agents.
References
- Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles enhance the performance of growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Scientific Reports (2018).
- Antifungal activity of copper oxide nanoparticles derived from Zizyphus spina leaf extract against Fusarium root rot disease in tomato plants. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
- Strategies for Enhancing Plant Immunity and Resilience Using Nanomaterials for Sustainable Agriculture. Environmental Science and Technology (2024).
- Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles Mediated by Mentha Spicata Extract Induce Plant Systemic Resistance against Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Applied Sciences (2020).
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