Do all Cu nanoparticles have similar applications in nano-enabled agriculture?

Abstract

Copper-based chemicals have been widely used in agriculture as fertilizers and pesticides. Although these products have been essential to ensure food security, their continuous use has resulted in environmental pollution with detrimental effects for certain living organisms. Efforts have been put in place to reduce pollution derived from Cu application in agriculture. However, there is still a long way to go to reduce agrochemical applications without affecting food security. Copper-based nanomaterials including metallic copper (Cu NPs, nCu) copper oxide (CuO NPs, nCuO) and copper hydroxide [Cu(OH) 2 nanowires, nCu(OH) 2 , Cu(OH) 2 NPs] appear as the alternative to replace traditional copper-based agrochemicals. The available literature shows that the three nanomaterials have exhibited capabilities as nanofertilizers or nanopesticides. However, the data is very scattered and, in some cases, inconsistent. This minireview shows the most recent results from investigations about the effects of the three Cu-based nanomaterials in agricultural production. Advantages and disadvantages are discussed and research questions to guide future investigations are stated. • Copper-based nanomaterials affect differently to plant species. • nCu seems to be less toxic than nCuO. • The response to Cu-based nanomaterials is phenotype-dependent. • Both nCuo and nCu(OH) 2 have shown to affect gene expression.