Efficacy of Chitosan Nanoparticle Loaded-Salicylic Acid and -Silver on Management of Cassava Leaf Spot Disease

Evaluation of Cytotoxicity, Release Behavior and Phytopathogens Control by Mancozeb-Loaded Guar Gum Nanoemulsions for Sustainable Agriculture

Chemical fungicides are the backbone of modern agriculture, but an alternative formulation is necessary for sustainable crop production to address human health issues and soil/water environmental pollution. So, a green chemistry approach was used to form guar gum nanoemulsions (NEs) of 186.5-394.1 nm containing the chemical fungicide mancozeb and was characterized using various physio-chemical techniques. An 84.5% inhibition was shown by 1.5 mg/mL mancozeb-loaded NEs (GG-1.5) against A. alternata, comparable to commercial mancozeb (86.5 ± 0.7%). The highest mycelial inhibition was exhibited against S. lycopersici and S. sclerotiorum. In tomatoes and potatoes, NEs showed superior antifungal efficacy in pot conditions besides plant growth parameters (germination percentage, root/shoot ratio and dry biomass). About 98% of the commercial mancozeb was released in just two h, while only about 43% of mancozeb was released from nanoemulsions (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) for the same time. The most significant results for cell viability were seen at 1.0 mg/mL concentration of treatment, where wide gaps in cell viability were observed for commercial mancozeb (21.67%) and NEs treatments (63.83-71.88%). Thus, this study may help to combat the soil and water pollution menace of harmful chemical pesticides besides protecting vegetable crops.

Nanotechnology - A new frontier of nano-farming in agricultural and food production and its development

The potential of nanotechnology for the development of sustainable agriculture has been promising. The initiatives to meet the rising food needs of the rapidly growing world population are mainly powered by sustainable agriculture. Nanoparticles are used in agriculture due to their distinct physicochemical characteristics. The interaction of nanomaterials with soil components is strongly determined in terms of soil quality and plant growth. Numerous research has been carried out to investigate how nanoparticles affect the growth and development of plants. Nanotechnology has been applied to improve the quality and reduce post-harvest loss of agricultural products by extending their shelf life, particularly for fruits and vegetables. This review assesses the latest literature on nanotechnology, which is used as a nano-biofertilizer as seen in the agricultural field for high productivity and better growth of plants, an important source of balanced nutrition for the crop, seed germination, and quality enrichment. Additionally, post-harvest food processing and packaging can benefit greatly from the use of nanotechnology to cut down on food waste and contamination. It also critically discusses the mechanisms involved in nanoparticle absorption and translocation within the plants and the synthesis of green nanoparticles.

Pharmaceutical and drug delivery applications of chitosan biopolymer and its modified nanocomposite: A review

Due to their improved structural and functional properties as well as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity, chitosan and its nanoparticles are currently grasping the interest of researchers. Although numerous attempts have been made to apply chitosan and its derivatives to biological applications, few have reported in achieving its pharmacological and drug delivery. The goal of the current work is to provide a summary of the chitosan biopolymer's physical, chemical, and biological properties as well as its synthesis of nanoparticles and characterization of its modified nanocomposites. The drug delivery method and pharmaceutical applications of chitosan biopolymer and its modified nanocomposites are examined in further detail in this research. We will introduce also about the most current publications in this field of study as well as its recent expansion.

Chitosan Nanoparticles-Based Ionic Gelation Method: A Promising Candidate for Plant Disease Management

By 2050, population growth and climate change will lead to increased demand for food and water. Nanoparticles (NPs), an advanced technology, can be applied to many areas of agriculture, including crop protection and growth enhancement, to build sustainable agricultural production. Ionic gelation method is a synthesis of microparticles or NPs, based on an electrostatic interaction between opposite charge types that contains at least one polymer under mechanical stirring conditions. NPs, which are commonly based on chitosan (CS), have been applied to many agricultural fields, including nanopesticides, nanofertilizers, and nanoherbicides. The CS-NP or CS-NPs-loaded active ingredients (Cu, saponin, harpin, Zn, hexaconazole, salicylic acid (SA), NPK, thiamine, silicon, and silver (Ag)) are effective in controlling plant diseases and enhancing plant growth, depending on the concentration and application method by direct and indirect mechanisms, and have attracted much attention in the last five years. Many crops have been evaluated in in vivo or in greenhouse conditions but only maize (CS-NP-loaded Cu, Zn, SA, and silicon) and soybean (CS-NP-loaded Cu) were tested for manage post flowering stalk rot, Curvularia leaf spot, and bacterial pustule disease in field condition. Since 2019, five of eight studies have been performed in field conditions that have shown interest in CS-NPs synthesized by the ionic gelation method. In this review, we summarized the current state of research and provided a forward-looking view of the use of CS-NPs in plant disease management.