Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Enhancing Plant Stress Resistance: A Review

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic stress factors are pivotal considerations in agriculture due to their potential to cause crop losses, food insecurity, and economic repercussions. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO nanoparticles) have gained substantial attention from researchers worldwide for their capacity to alleviate the detrimental impacts of both biotic and abiotic stress on plants, concurrently reducing dependence on environmentally harmful chemicals. This article provides an overview of methods for synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles, encompassing physical vapor deposition, ball milling, hydrothermal methods, solvothermal methods, precipitation methods, microwave methods, microbial synthesis, and plant-mediated synthesis. Additionally, it delves into the absorption, translocation, and biotransformation pathways of ZnO nanoparticles within plants. The emphasis lies in elucidating the potential of ZnO nanoparticles to safeguard plants against biotic and abiotic stress, enhance plant performance, and modulate various plant processes. The article also offers a preliminary exploration of the mechanisms underlying plant stress tolerance mediated by ZnO nanoparticles. In conclusion, ZnO nanoparticles present an environmentally friendly and cost-effective strategy for plant stress management, paving the way for the integration of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture. This opens new possibilities for leveraging nanotechnology to bolster plant resilience against stress in the ever-changing climate conditions, ensuring global food security.

Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles to Mitigate Cadmium Toxicity: Mechanisms and Future Prospects

“…These methods involve the use of algae, bacteria, fungi, and plants to synthesize ZnO-NPs [ 51 , 52 ]. Green synthesis is a rapid, eco-friendly, and expensive method to produce ZnO-NPs [ 53 ]. Green-synthesized ZnO-NPs have shown promising results in mitigating the toxic effects of plant stress conditions [ 54 ].…”

Comparative analysis of the insecticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and agro-morphological characteristics of maize using non-biogenic and biogenic ZnO nanoparticles

“…Further, they offer the capacity to manage insect pest management activity against storage and crop pests through various mechanisms, including physical distortion, diminished fertility, decreased egg deposition, and repellent activity. 10–12 During seed storage, it is essential to protect seeds in storage from storage insect pests and enhance their viability. With this in mind, the aim of the present study was to perform a comparative analysis of the insecticidal value and agro-morphological characteristics of maize from seeds treated using non-biogenic and biogenic ZnO nanoparticles.…”

Co3O4 Nanostructured Sensor for Electrochemical Detection of H2O2 as a Stress Biomarker in Barley: Fe3O4 Nanoparticles-Mediated Enhancement of Salt Stress Tolerance

“…Nanoparticles, with their unique properties at the nanoscale, have emerged as a promising avenue for addressing these challenges in agriculture [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Scientists are exploring the application of nanoparticles to improve nutrient delivery [ 8 ], enhance pest [ 9 , 10 ] and disease management [ 11 , 12 ], optimize water use efficiency [ 13 ], and bolster crop resilience to environmental stresses [ 14 , 15 ].…”