Metal/Metalloid-Based Nanomaterials for Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance: An Overview of the Mechanisms

Abstract

In agriculture, abiotic stress is one of the critical issues impacting the crop productivity and yield. Such stress factors lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species, membrane damage, and other plant metabolic activities. To neutralize the harmful effects of abiotic stress, several strategies have been employed that include the utilization of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are now gaining attention worldwide to protect plant growth against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, extreme temperatures, flooding, etc. However, their behavior is significantly impacted by the dose in which they are being used in agriculture. Furthermore, the action of nanomaterials in plants under various stresses still require understanding. Hence, with this background, the present review envisages to highlight beneficial role of nanomaterials in plants, their mode of action, and their mechanism in overcoming various abiotic stresses. It also emphasizes upon antioxidant activities of different nanomaterials and their dose-dependent variability in plants’ growth under stress. Nevertheless, limitations of using nanomaterials in agriculture are also presented in this review.

RETRACTED: Mitigation of salinity stress in barley genotypes with variable salt tolerance by application of zinc oxide nanoparticles

“…The ability of plants to maintain K + levels and control the exclusion of Na + from photosynthetic leaves was highly efficient in enhancing the ability to tolerate salt stress ( Aranda et al, 2021 ). In glycophytes, salinity tolerance is due to the ability of plants to have high osmo-tolerance coupled with tissue tolerance and a high ability to retain K + in the mesophyll ( Sarraf et al, 2022 ).…”

“…It is considered that nanoparticles (NPs) can be used as a nutrient source, especially micronutrients ( Arshad et al, 2021 ; Hazarika et al, 2022 ; Sarraf et al, 2022 ). Thus, the use of nano-fertilizers for the controlled release of concerning nutrients for crops might be a potential strategy to solve such issues of soil contamination and low agronomic productivity ( Raliya et al, 2017 ).…”

Plant Nutrition: An Effective Way to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops

“…Del Pino et al [ 288 ] documented the persistent impact of Se fertilisation on the augmentation of qualitative aspects of crop plants under abiotic stress, especially under Se-deficient zones. Specifically, it rejuvenates ROS scavenging mechanisms through activation of antioxidant defence [ 289 ] such as GPX, APX, DHAR, MDHAR, CAT, POD and SOD activities, while curtailing the H 2 O 2 and MDA contents under different kinds of abiotic stresses [ 290 , 291 ]. Conjoint activities of these antioxidants reduce lipid peroxidation as well as retain cell membrane integrity and photosynthetic pigment concentrations [ 292 , 293 ].…”

Harzianopyridone Supplementation Reduced Chromium Uptake and Enhanced Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Vigna radiata Seedlings Exposed to Chromium Toxicity

“…To mitigate heavy metal-induced oxidative stress, plants regulate the activities of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. In the case of severe heavy metal toxicity, plant metabolomics is negatively affected resulting in disruption of some biomolecules, which leads to oxidative stress ( Paithankar et al, 2021 ; Sarraf et al, 2022 ). However, Cr toxicity in plants depends on the concentration of Cr uptake from the rhizospheric region ( Wakeel et al, 2018 , 2019 ; Farid et al, 2019 ).…”