Agricultural nanodiagnostics for plant diseases: recent advances and challenges

Abstract

<p>Crop diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms pose severe threats to the global food supply. Effective diagnostic tools for timely determination of plant diseases become essential to the assurance of agricultural...</p>

Ultraconformable, Self‐Adhering Surface Electrodes for Measuring Electrical Signals in Plants

“…[ 9,28 ] Different thin‐layer sensors and electronic systems based on materials like conductive polymers and graphene operating on the plant surface have been developed for measuring for example humidity or concentrations of certain biomolecules with great potential for agricultural monitoring. [ 29–33 ] Especially thin film electrodes based on graphene and carbon nanotubes, [ 34–36 ] silver inks [ 37 ] and silver nanowires, [ 38 ] conductive polymers, [ 29,39 ] and liquid metals [ 40 ] have shown advantages for being patternable into various shapes, bearing an excellent applicability on plant surfaces, having physiological sensing capability, and some are transparent or semitransparent. Yet, the development of techniques for recording intrinsic electrophysiological signals on plants and using them in biohybrid technologies remains limited to a few examples whereas the long‐established research on the biological aspects on plant's electrical signals started back in the 19th century by observations of electrical signals in Venus flytraps ( Dionaea muscipula ) by Sanderson.…”

Zinc-Based Nanomaterials for Diagnosis and Management of Plant Diseases: Ecological Safety and Future Prospects

“…Pathogenic disorders or diseases in plants can be identified through various imaging, spectroscopy, and conjugate imaging and spectroscopy techniques [ 178 ]. Most likely, the role of diagnostic techniques is to achieve quick, early, sensitive, simple, in situ, reliable, and automated high throughput identification and quantification of the causative agent so that the extent of virulence can be obtained before the appearance of the actual visual symptoms of the disease [ 179 ].…”

“…The plant produces a myriad of signal molecules in response to a pathogen attack. Few abundant and signature signal molecules including specific enzymes, gaseous molecules (e.g., nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds), reactive oxygen species, secretory compounds such as oxylipins and expression of a crucial gene (pathogenesis-related proteins-PRPs, PAMPs) can be aptly utilized as key biomarkers for the development of nanobiosensor platforms [ 178 ]. As discussed in Section 3.2.2 ., several mycotoxigenic fungi produce diffusible exotoxins, which can also be utilized as markers for the identification and confirmation of phytopathogenic fungi.…”

The Role of Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases

“…For the treatment of plant diseases, they are used either by controlled delivery of functional molecules or as a diagnostic tool for disease detection [35]. The Nano-based diagnostic kits have been applied to monitor plant health [39] and to quickly detect potential serious plant pathogens to control the epidemic diseases; these kits not only increase the accuracy of the diagnosis but also increase the speed of pathogen detection. The use of nanotechnology with microfluidic systems finds applications in molecular plant pathology; it can be adapted to detect specific toxins and pathogens.…”