Innovative Strategies for Plant Protection: The Combination of Spray-Induced Gene Silencing and Nanotechnology

Chemical pesticides have traditionally been a primary strategy for controlling plant diseases. With the mounting issues in disease control arising from the prolonged use of pesticides, the three ″R″ issues (resistance, residues, and resurgence) and the three ″risks″ (disability, teratogenicity, and mutagenicity) have become more prominent, significantly hindering agricultural development. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to prevent and control plant diseases. RNA pesticides are poised to lead a green revolution in agriculture, and spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), depending on dsRNA and nanotechnology, is a novel approach offering efficient and targeted strategies for sustainable management of plant pathogens. The technology avoids the potential ecological risks associated with genetically modified crops. This review outlines the recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of dsRNA silencing in plant pathogens and focuses on the advancements in SIGS using nanotechnology for managing plant diseases. The combination of SIGS with nanopesticide will provide a dual effect on disease control.