Abstract
A facet of nanorenaissance in plant pathology hailed the research on the development and application of nanoformulations or nanoproducts for the effective management of phytopathogens deterring the growth and yield of plants and thus the overall crop productivity. Zinc nanomaterials represent a versatile class of nanoproducts and nanoenabled devices as these nanomaterials can be synthesized in quantum amounts through economically affordable processes/approaches. Further, these nanomaterials exhibit potential targeted antimicrobial properties and low to negligible phytotoxicity activities that well-qualify them to be applied directly or in a deviant manner to accomplish significant antibacterial, antimycotic, antiviral, and antitoxigenic activities against diverse phytopathogens causing plant diseases. The photo-catalytic, fluorescent, and electron generating aspects associated with zinc nanomaterials have been utilized for the development of sensor systems (optical and electrochemical biosensors), enabling quick, early, sensitive, and on-field assessment or quantification of the test phytopathogen. However, the proficient use of Zn-derived nanomaterials in the management of plant pathogenic diseases as nanopesticides and on-field sensor system demands that the associated eco- and biosafety concerns should be well discerned and effectively sorted beforehand. Current and possible utilization of zinc-based nanostructures in plant disease diagnosis and management and their safety in the agroecosystem is highlighted.
Highlights
Microbial pathogenic diseases of crop plants account for substantial annual loss, approximately 16–40%, of production tonnage [1]
The nano-Zn products, the nanoformulations developed for suppression of bacterial, phytoplasma, fungal, or viral diseases in crop plants, can have a gross impact on decreasing the extent of voluminous use of conventional metal(s)-based pesticides
The prior research has shown high effectivity of nano-Zn formulations to curb phytopathogen owing to versatile antimicrobial mechanism of action including photo-oxidation leading to generation of reactive oxygen species, destabilization of the cell membrane, organelles, and other cellular macromolecules, and toxicity due to the release of zinc ions
Summary
Microbial pathogenic diseases of crop plants account for substantial annual loss (in the relative manner depicted as a percentage), approximately 16–40%, of production tonnage [1]. The bacterial and fungal pathogens of various crops exhibit enormous yield and productivity losses during production and postharvest storage as well as during transportation of the crop produce [2]. To safeguard the crop from crop health and yield deterring pathogens, pesticides- organic or inorganic compounds, or their composites have been used by agriculturists or farmers. Among the diverse pesticidal agents utilized to curb weeds and plant pathogens, zinc and copper formulations have emerged as the best performers
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