Application of nano-agricultural technology for biotic stress management: mechanisms, optimization, and future perspectives

Abstract

Crop biotic stressors seriously threaten efforts to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity and global food security. Nano-agricultural technology is a promising strategy for sustainable control of crop biotic stress that has more economic and environmental benefits than do conventional analogues. A total of 350 research items from 2006 to 23 April 2022 were identified and investigated using nanomaterials (NMs) to control crop diseases and pests (keywords: nano agriculture application disease/pest/insect). Here we review the performance, in terms of crop disease and pest management, of directly applied NMs of different types, properties, and concentrations. The overall control efficacy of crop diseases by NMs was 1.61-, 2.45-, and 1.66-fold that of ions, bulk particles, and commercial pesticides. The pest growth inhibition of NMs is significantly greater than that of their ionic and large-sized analogues. Mechanistically, NMs could directly inhibit the growth of pathogens and pests, activate host resistance (commonly employed), and regulate host metabolism. We anticipate that nano-agricultural technology will continue to be developed and optimized using more environmentally friendly NMs, enhancing bioavailability of NMs, and synthesizing hybrid NMs with synergistic efficiency for optimal field application. Nonetheless, the input cost of NMs should be reduced by optimization of manufacturing techniques, and the potential long-term risk of NMs to environment and human health should be considered. Overall, if progressed and applied appropriately, nano-agricultural technology will play an important role in guaranteeing global food security and achieving sustainable agriculture.