Issue 10, 2022

Nanomaterials for enhancing photosynthesis: interaction with plant photosystems and scope of nanobionics in agriculture

Abstract

The complex process of photosynthesis requires precise arrangements of light harvesting molecules in the photosynthetic system. Artificial imitation of such reaction systems is difficult as they involve complex protein structures. Global population increase and the associated rise in demand for food have become a vital concern in the present and therefore it is essential to develop methods to improve agricultural yields, enhancing photosynthesis could be key to this. An approach is the use of self-assembling systems which are embedded into plants to enhance the activity of photo-functional pigments. This review discusses various nanoparticle mediated artificially embedded photosystems used to enhance photosynthesis. It also includes the mechanisms of interaction between nanoparticles and photosystem for enhancing photosynthesis due to the involvement of a light-harvesting function. The use of self-assembling systems to improve photosynthesis could increase productivity of plants, particularly in regions or seasons with low duration of sunlight. Plant nanobionics offers scope towards embedding nanostructures into plant systems and supplementing them with additional properties to enhance the efficiency of plants in terms of resistance to pathogens, adaptability to abiotic and biotic stresses, in addition to improving sunlight harnessing ability and energy conversion. This review also highlights the importance of functionalised nanoparticles with tunable structures to produce desirable properties. A mechanistic view of the nanoparticle interaction with plants will help us realise the potential and facilitate appropriate application of nanoparticles in plants for photosynthesis enhancement.

Graphical abstract: Nanomaterials for enhancing photosynthesis: interaction with plant photosystems and scope of nanobionics in agriculture

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
10 Mey 2022
Accepted
04 Aga 2022
First published
05 Aga 2022

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022,9, 3659-3683

Nanomaterials for enhancing photosynthesis: interaction with plant photosystems and scope of nanobionics in agriculture

C. Mony, P. Kaur, J. E. Rookes, D. L. Callahan, S. V. Eswaran, W. Yang and P. K. Manna, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2022, 9, 3659 DOI: 10.1039/D2EN00451H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements