Engineered Nanoparticle-Based Approaches to the Protection of Plants Against Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

Plant diseases are a significant biotic limitation, leading to notable crop losses worldwide. There are several approaches to managing and reducing the damage of diseases. The application of chemical pesticides is the most common method and gain rapid control, but they have harmful effects on the environment and on humans. The expansion and use of nanotechnology has had a profound impact on human life and presented a new frontier in almost all fields of industrial application. In the last few decades, interest in research into using nanoparticles has grown. One of the most significant goals of nanotechnology is to produce nanoparticles with the ability to manage and reduce plant diseases. Nanotechnology is one of the modern techniques of material science. The small-sized nanoparticles have shown improved or different characteristics in comparison with bulk materials. In plant diseases, the use of nanoparticles is considered an important approach for the control of different plant pathogens, with eco-friendly features that inhibit and destroy many functions and structures in pathogens. Despite the benefits of nanotechnology in agriculture and extensive research in this field, this science has not yet entered the agricultural market in practice.