Abstract
Application of nanoparticles to address various environmental issues; especially heavy metal contaminated soil restoration is of global interest. Indiscriminate usage of phosphate fertilizer and other anthropogenic activities contribute to Cd contamination of soil, resulting in degradation of soil quality and low crop yield. By the virtue of unique physiochemical characteristics, nanoparticles (NPs) are effective enough for heavy metal stress mitigation. This review has focused on Cd uptake, accumulation and toxicity in plants followed by the successful application of different metallic and non metallic NPs for soil Cd decontamination. Positive impact of NPs as plant growth elicitor under Cd stress has been explored here. Various ways of NP application (soil, foliar, hydroponics), uptake, mode of action and effective treatment concentration have been highlighted. We have collected handful information regarding the use of NPs as nanofertilizer and nanopesticides. The negative effects of NPs have not been considered here. More in depth study to be conducted for better illumination on plant - NPs interaction, mobilization mechanism and biological activities. Though this review summarizes few facts among various aspect of NP but can be counted as a supportive documentation for the better use of NPs in environmental protection in future.
Highlights
Indiscriminate usage of agrochemicals and fertilizers, excessive mining has led to heavy metal (HM) soil contamination a global burning issue
Uninterrupted advancement of technology, has introduced an era of nano bioscience, by the virtue of which several types of smartly designed NPs are available in the market
Engineered NPs are extensively utilized for quality crop production, as growth elicitor, nanopesticides, phytoremediating soil and water, nanofertilizers
Summary
Indiscriminate usage of agrochemicals and fertilizers, excessive mining has led to heavy metal (HM) soil contamination a global burning issue. Growth reduction of Cd stressed rice due to root shoot translocation and grain accumulation [33] is a proven fact and directly related to low yield of other crop (wheat) plants [34]. In Arabidopsis, cadmium stress-responsive gene AtFC1 was transcriptionally activated to elevate Cd tolerance by upregulating non protein thiol compound (glutathione and phytochelatins) production, that confers increase in root length, biomass, chlorophyll content with simultaneous decrease in free radicals [61]. Positive effect of plant growth regulator (salicylic acid, gibberellin) in Cd remediation by reducing ROS generation and upregulating different antioxidative enzymes like SOD, CAT [63] and heat shock (stress) protein [64] production is a well established proven fact. NPs mediated plant interactions, regarding metal uptake, mobilization and accumulation are of great interest and a few successfully engineered NPs have been
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