Article
Plant Sciences
Satyendra Pratap Singh, Chetan Keswani, Tatiana Minkina, Aurelio Ortiz, Estibaliz Sansinenea
Summary: Sustainable agriculture poses challenges to human health, particularly in terms of managing plant diseases caused by climate change and emerging pathogens. The use of environmentally friendly biopesticides/biofertilizers and nanomaterials shows promise in mitigating the impact of these challenges. Nanotechnology can reduce chemical use, nutrient loss, and increase crop yield through the use of nanofertilizers and nanopesticides. Nanosensors can monitor soil quality and maintain the health of agricultural plants. Despite ongoing large-scale production and field testing, information suggests that nano-agrochemicals improve uptake, efficiency, targeted delivery, and reduce leaching and pollution. This review summarizes the impact of nanotechnology in agriculture.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ling Jiang, Simon Strobbe, Dominique Van Der Straeten, Chunyi Zhang
Summary: Micronutrient deficiencies, including shortages of vitamins and minerals, have long-term effects on billions of people's health, learning ability, and economic losses. Biofortification of multiple micronutrients plays a key role in combating malnutrition, but balancing plant growth with human nutrient requirements presents a challenge. Integrating new breeding technologies with metabolic pathway modification can facilitate crop biofortification and alleviate hidden hunger in target populations.
Review
Agronomy
Demeke Teklu, Dawd Gashu, Edward J. M. Joy, Tilahun Amede, Martin R. Broadley
Summary: Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) affect a significant proportion of the global population. Agronomic biofortification can help increase the concentration of essential minerals in food crops to improve human dietary intake. However, its feasibility depends on various factors such as access to fertilizers and considerations of crop type, genotype, climate, soils, and soil mineral interactions. This paper reviews the available literature on the potential effectiveness and challenges of agronomic biofortification in addressing MNDs.
Review
Plant Sciences
Paola Fincheira, Gonzalo Tortella, Amedea B. Seabra, Andres Quiroz, Maria Cristina Diez, Olga Rubilar
Summary: Advancements in nanotechnology have positioned it as a crucial tool for enhancing agricultural production, with nanomaterials serving as efficient nutrients or carriers for controlled fertilizer release. Despite the potential benefits of nanofertilizers in improving plant growth and nutrition, their application in sustainable agriculture remains a significant challenge.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bongiwe Dhlamini, Hugues Kamdem Paumo, Boniface Pone Kamdem, Lebogang Katata-Seru, Indra Bahadur
Summary: The ongoing pandemic has led to an increased demand for food and put a strain on food productivity. In addition to this, acute hunger has been on the rise in developing countries due to various factors. Conventional fertilizers, although promoted for improving agricultural productivity, pose risks to the environment. The use of nanoformulated nutrients is seen as a valuable strategy to address current and future concerns and revolutionize the agricultural sector.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Smriti Arora, Gajiram Murmu, Koel Mukherjee, Sumit Saha, Dipak Maity
Summary: Plant nutrition is crucial for crop productivity and food security. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has unintended consequences on the environment and ecological balance. Nanotechnology offers promise for sustainable agriculture, but also presents risks and challenges.
JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Horticulture
Selly D. Msungu, Arnold A. Mushongi, Pavithravani B. Venkataramana, Ernest R. Mbega
Summary: Micronutrient deficiency is a major problem, especially in developing countries where maize is the main source of calories. Vitamin A deficiency can cause various health issues and economic losses among vulnerable groups. Strategies such as supplementation, fortification, and diversification have been used, but rural residents still lack access to these alternatives. Biofortification of maize with higher provitamin A content shows promise in alleviating vitamin A deficiency, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Edward J. M. Joy, Alexander A. Kalimbira, Joanna Sturgess, Leonard Banda, Gabriella Chiutsi-Phiri, Hastings Manase, Jellita Gondwe, Elaine L. Ferguson, Zione Kalumikiza, Elizabeth H. Bailey, Scott D. Young, Limbanazo Matandika, Joseph Mfutso-Bengo, Kate Millar, Maja Niksic, Lucia Segovia de la Revilla, Blessings H. Likoswe, John C. Phuka, Felix P. Phiri, R. Murray Lark, Dawd Gashu, Simon C. Langley-Evans, E. Louise Ander, Nicola M. Lowe, Alan D. Dangour, Patson C. Nalivata, Martin R. Broadley, Elizabeth Allen
Summary: This study aims to determine whether the consumption of maize flour fortified with selenium through agronomic biofortification can affect the serum selenium concentrations of women and children in rural Malawi.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anderson do Espirito Santo Pereira, Jhones Luiz de Oliveira, Susilaine Maira Savassa, Carolina Barbara Rogerio, Gerson Araujo de Medeiros, Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
Summary: The global agriculture sector is seeking new agricultural technology revolutions to meet the growing demand for food production and to protect the environment from harmful practices. Nanotechnology has emerged as a platform with the potential to transform the entire food chain, making agriculture more resilient and sustainable. Lignin nanoparticles offer potential applications in agriculture, particularly for environmentally friendly pesticide production.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sri Renukadevi Balusamy, Abhayraj S. Joshi, Haribalan Perumalsamy, Ivan Mijakovic, Priyanka Singh
Summary: Nanoparticles have great potential in agriculture as a source of micronutrients and a delivery platform for bioactive agrochemicals, improving crop growth, yield, and quality. Selecting nanoparticles with suitable physicochemical properties and applying them through appropriate methods is a smart option for achieving sustainable agriculture and improved plant performance.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Kari Vinzant, Mohammad Rashid, Mariya V. V. Khodakovskaya
Summary: The use of nanotechnology in agriculture is still in its early stages but shows promise for improving efficiency. Nanoparticles offer solutions for depleted soils, controlled release of agrochemicals, and gene editing in plants. However, there are concerns about environmental contamination and the complexity of soil-NP interactions. It is preferable for biodegradable, non-toxic, cost-effective, and sustainably manufactured nanoparticles to be used at this stage. This mini-review discusses promising organic nanomaterials for agricultural enhancement and optimization.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Sharmistha Mathur, Shalini Pareek, Divya Shrivastava
Summary: The increasing pressure of the growing human population has led to the realization of the need for sustainable agriculture. The use of nanotechnology has reduced the use of hazardous chemical fertilizers and increased nutrient uptake by plants, resulting in better crop growth and yield. This review analyzes studies conducted in the last 15 years using nanofertilizers and reveals that ZnO and Fe2O3 nanofertilizers have shown the most significant increases in root and shoot weight and length. Additionally, the review highlights the limited use of nanofertilizers in agricultural research, particularly in leguminous crops.
COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tapan Behl, Ishnoor Kaur, Aayush Sehgal, Sukhbir Singh, Neelam Sharma, Saurabh Bhatia, Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Simona Bungau
Summary: The global agro-farming industry faces unprecedented challenges, leading to the emergence of nanotechnology in agriculture as an innovative approach for sustainable farming practices. This has successfully enhanced plant growth and crop quality, optimizing traditional agriculture into precision farming.
Article
Horticulture
Alejandro Palacio-Marquez, Carlos A. Ramirez-Estrada, Nayeli Jazmin Gutierrez-Ruelas, Esteban Sanchez, Damaris L. Ojeda-Barrios, Celia Chavez-Mendoza, Juan P. Sida-Arreola
Summary: The individual application of zinc oxide nanoparticles and chitosan can improve crop growth and production, with higher effectiveness compared to conventional fertilizers. However, there is limited information on the foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles complexed with chitosan and their effects on crop physiology. Further research is needed to understand the physicochemical properties of these nanoparticles and their impact on plant physiology and biochemistry.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Changcheng An, Changjiao Sun, Ningjun Li, Bingna Huang, Jiajun Jiang, Yue Shen, Chong Wang, Xiang Zhao, Bo Cui, Chunxin Wang, Xingye Li, Shenshan Zhan, Fei Gao, Zhanghua Zeng, Haixin Cui, Yan Wang
Summary: The application of NMs in agrochemicals is of great significance as they can overcome the limitations of conventional agrochemicals and improve the sustainability of agricultural systems and food security.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pooja Sihag, Vijeta Sagwal, Anuj Kumar, Priyanka Balyan, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Om Parkash Dhankher, Upendra Kumar
Summary: The study identified 104 heat-stress-responsive miRNAs in various crops and validated 70 miRNA-SSR markers on 20 terminal heat-tolerant and heat-susceptible wheat genotypes, with only 19 markers found to be polymorphic. The polymorphic miRNA-SSRs showed an average of 2.9 alleles per locus and were used to study genetic diversity and population structure, clustering the wheat genotypes into 3 groups. Two specific miRNA-SSR markers, miR159c and miR165b, were identified as promising diagnostic markers for distinguishing terminal heat-tolerant genotypes from susceptible ones.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Vijeta Sagwal, Pooja Sihag, Yogita Singh, Sheetal Mehla, Prexha Kapoor, Priyanka Balyan, Anuj Kumar, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Om Parkash Dhankher, Upendra Kumar
Summary: Nitrogen and phosphorous are the most limiting factors for wheat production. Marker-assisted selection can be used to identify wheat genotypes with different N/P use efficiency. These markers are valuable for evaluating the N and P use efficiency in wheat germplasm.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prabina Kumar Meher, Shbana Begam, Tanmaya Kumar Sahu, Ajit Gupta, Anuj Kumar, Upendra Kumar, Atmakuri Ramakrishna Rao, Krishna Pal Singh, Om Parkash Dhankher
Summary: In this study, a machine learning-based computational method was developed to predict abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs in plants. By using support vector machine and generating pseudo K-tuple nucleotide compositional features, high prediction accuracy was achieved, and an online prediction server was developed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shivangi Thakur, Upendra Kumar, Rashmi Malik, Darshana Bisht, Priyanka Balyan, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Sundip Kumar
Summary: Research has shown that there is interspecific variation in the 45S rDNA among cultivars of Cymbopogon species, possibly due to natural crossbreeding and radiation. Differences in the distribution of rDNA were observed in different varieties, and these changes were primarily fixed through sexual reproduction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Humara Fayaz, Sandhya Tyagi, Aijaz A. Wani, Renu Pandey, Sabina Akhtar, Mohd Ashraf Bhat, Annapurna Chitikineni, Rajeev Kumar Varshney, Mahendar Thudi, Upendra Kumar, Reyazul Rouf Mir
Summary: This study conducted a genome-wide association study using genotyping and phenotyping data to identify genes/QTLs associated with seed micronutrient concentrations in chickpea. The results will be useful for future breeding programs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Vivek Kumar, Hemant Sharma, Lalita Saini, Archasvi Tyagi, Pooja Jain, Yogita Singh, Priyanka Balyan, Sachin Kumar, Sofora Jan, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Ivica Djalovic, Krishna Pal Singh, Upendra Kumar, Vijai Malik
Summary: This study identified 20S proteasome genes in rapeseed and studied their characteristics and expression patterns under various stress conditions. The genes were found to be distributed on all chromosomes of rapeseed and were duplicated on homoeologous chromosomes. Some of these genes showed high expression under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. These findings contribute to our understanding of the organization and function of 20S proteasome genes in rapeseed.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sheetal Mehla, Upendra Kumar, Prexha Kapoor, Yogita Singh, Pooja Sihag, Vijeta Sagwal, Priyanka Balyan, Anuj Kumar, Navjeet Ahalawat, Nita Lakra, Krishna Pal Singh, Vladan Pesic, Ivica Djalovic, Reyazul Rouf Mir, Om Parkash Dhankher
Summary: This study comprehensively annotated the candidate genes associated with different developmental stages of flag leaf using a variety of in silico tools. The results revealed that these candidate genes play important roles in the development of high-yielding wheat varieties.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vijeta Sagwal, Upendra Kumar, Pooja Sihag, Yogita Singh, Priyanka Balyan, Krishna Pal Singh
Summary: This study investigates the physiological and gene expression differences between wheat genotypes with high and low nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency. The high efficiency genotypes show significant differences in physiological parameters and gene expression, providing valuable insight for future improvement of nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pooja Sihag, Upendra Kumar, Vijeta Sagwal, Prexha Kapoor, Yogita Singh, Sheetal Mehla, Priyanka Balyan, Reazul Rouf Mir, Rajeev K. K. Varshney, Krishna Pal Singh, Om Parkash Dhankher
Summary: The grain-filling stage in wheat is highly susceptible to increasing temperature, resulting in reduced grain quality and yield. Through biochemical and gene expression analyses, we found that heat-tolerant wheat genotypes showed higher accumulation of osmolytes, including total soluble sugar, proline, and glycine betaine, compared to heat-sensitive genotypes. We also observed an increase in the expression of heat-responsive genes in flag leaves exposed to higher temperatures, indicating their involvement in heat stress tolerance. The highly differentially expressed genes in the heat-tolerant genotypes WH730 and WH1218 suggest their greater adaptability to heat stress compared to heat-sensitive genotypes.
Review
Plant Sciences
Sofora Jan, Sachin Rustgi, Rutwik Barmukh, Asif B. Shikari, Brenton Leske, Amanuel Bekuma, Darshan Sharma, Wujun Ma, Upendra Kumar, Uttam Kumar, Abhishek Bohra, Rajeev K. Varshney, Reyazul Rouf Mir
Summary: Cold stress is a major challenge for staple food crops, and understanding the molecular mechanisms behind their response to cold stress is crucial for developing cold-tolerant varieties.