Endophytic Nanotechnology: An Approach to Study Scope and Potential Applications

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Nanotechnology
• Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Limited exploration of nanotechnology in agriculture despite its potential.
• Climate change and increasing food demand necessitate sustainable crop management.
• Adverse environmental and human health impacts of conventional chemical inputs (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review nanoparticle (NP) synthesis methods, focusing on green synthesis.
• To discuss the application of NPs in plant disease management and genetic engineering.
• To highlight the role of endophytic microorganisms in eco-friendly NP synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of NP synthesis techniques: top-down, bottom-up, and green synthesis.
• Focus on biological synthesis using plants, algae, yeast, bacteria, and fungi, particularly endophytic microorganisms.
• Exploration of various nanoparticle forms: MgO-NPs, Cu-NPs, CS-NPs, GNPs, and engineered nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticles (NPs) offer reduced chemical input for crop disease management.
• Green synthesis, especially using endophytic microorganisms, provides eco-friendly NP production.
• NPs can function as nanofertilizers, biosensors, and molecular tools for plant genetic engineering.

Conclusions:

• Nanotechnology, particularly green synthesized NPs, is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
• Endophytic microorganisms offer a promising avenue for environmentally benign NP synthesis.
• NPs enhance plant disease management through direct application and advanced genetic strategies.