Potential Toxic Effects of Metal or Metallic Nanoparticles in Plants and Their Detoxification Mechanisms

Abstract

AbstractThe development of nanotechnology via the enormous utilization of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in agriculture sector including metal (M) or metallic (MT) nanoparticles (NPs) has increased. Although, large surface area and particular sizes of NPs are some of the desired traits to ameliorate the environmental stress factors and modify the plant physiological processes, thereby leads to improve the crop production. The potential toxic nature of M or MT NPs (mainly depends upon their characteristics) sometimes causes toxic effects by inducing the extra production of reactive oxygen species, thus causing oxidative stress. Moreover, the M or MT NP–induced oxidative stress impairs the cellular biomolecules and causes imbalance in plant biological and metabolic processes. In this way, it is crucial to explore the mechanisms involved in M or MT NP–mediated phytotoxicity along with NP detoxification strategies that can be helpful to understand the various morpho-physiological, biochemical, and metabolic responses of plants. To address this, recent studies concerning the M or MT NP toxicity at morpho-physiological, biochemical, cellular, and molecular levels have been discussed in this chapter. Factors affecting M or MT NP toxicity have also been overviewed. In addition, the potential detoxification strategies such as the applications of antioxidants, phytohormones, surface modifications, and omics approaches to minimize or ameliorate M or MT NP toxicity in different plants have been reviewed.KeywordsNanoparticlesNanotoxicityPhytotoxicityOxidative stressAntioxidantsPlants