Nanotechnology Applications in Plant Stress Tolerance

Nanotechnology offers a suite of tools to bolster plant resilience against major abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and heavy‐metal toxicity. By harnessing nanoparticles with controlled size, surface chemistry and composition, researchers have achieved precise delivery of nutrients and bioactive compounds to plant tissues. Metal‐oxide nanoparticles (for example zinc oxide and silicon dioxide), selenium–silica hybrid particles and polymer‐coated formulations can be applied as foliar sprays or soil amendments to enhance water retention, regulate ion uptake and stimulate endogenous protective pathways. Key mechanisms include reinforcement of antioxidant enzyme activities, reduction of membrane lipid peroxidation, accumulation of compatible osmolytes and maintenance of favourable K+/Na+ ratios. These approaches not only improve physiological traits such as photosynthetic efficiency, relative water content and membrane stability, but also translate into higher yields and better produce quality under field‐relevant stress conditions. As global agriculture faces mounting challenges from climate change and soil degradation, nanoparticle-based strategies promise to deliver sustainable innovations that integrate seamlessly with precision‐agronomy platforms and agroecological practices.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored the synergistic effects of selenium and silicon dioxide nanoparticles in alleviating drought stress in fruit crops. Exogenous application of silica, selenium and combined Se/SiO₂ nanoparticles as foliar sprays on strawberry plants under varying water-deficit levels led to marked improvements in biomass, photosynthetic pigment retention and fruit quality. The Se/SiO₂ treatment in particular enhanced key osmolytes such as proline and soluble carbohydrates, elevated the activity of antioxidant enzymes—including catalase, peroxidases and superoxide dismutase—and reduced membrane lipid peroxidation. These physiological gains were reflected in higher relative water content and membrane stability indices, culminating in increased yield and antioxidant content of the harvested berries.

Nanotechnology Applications in Plant Stress Tolerance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in plant stress tolerance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Foliar application: Direct spraying of nanoparticle suspensions onto plant leaves to facilitate rapid uptake through stomata and cuticular pores.

Osmolytes: Small organic compounds (e.g. proline, soluble sugars) that accumulate in cells to stabilise proteins and membranes under osmotic stress.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, superoxide) generated under stress that can damage cellular structures if not neutralised.

Antioxidant enzymes: Protective proteins such as catalase, peroxidases and superoxide dismutase that detoxify ROS and limit oxidative damage.

Relative water content (RWC): A measure of leaf hydration status, expressed as the percentage of water retained relative to maximal turgor capacity.

Membrane stability index (MSI): A metric of cell-membrane integrity under stress, based on the extent of electrolyte leakage from tissues.

References

1. Selenium and silica nanostructure-based recovery of strawberry plants subjected to drought stress. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Foliar Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Promotes Drought Stress Tolerance in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Plants (2021).
3. Chitosan–Selenium Nanoparticle (Cs–Se NP) Foliar Spray Alleviates Salt Stress in Bitter Melon. Nanomaterials (2021).