Role of MgO nanoparticles in the suppression of Meloidogyne incognita, infecting cowpea and improvement in plant growth and physiology.

Root-knot disease, caused by Meloidogyne spp., alters histology as well as physiology of the roots thus influencing metabolism of vegetative and reproductive parts leading to huge losses in crop productivity. The experimental plant, Vigna unguiculata L. (cowpea of Fabaceae family) var. Gomti is an economically important pulse crop plant. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different concentrations (0, 25, 50 or 100 ppm) and various modes of applications (root dip, soil drench or foliar spray) of MgO nanoparticles on cowpea infected with M. incognita. The MgO nanoparticles were synthesized chemically and characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The scanning electron microscopy images of second stage juveniles of M. incognita treated with MgO nanoparticles (50 and 100 ppm) exhibited indentations, roughness and distortions in the cuticular surface, in comparison to the control untreated juveniles. MgO nanoparticles, in varying concentrations (50, 100 and 200 ppm), were dispensed into the plants by root dip, soil drench and foliar spray methods and their efficacy was assessed in terms of morphological characteristics, yield parameters and biochemical attributes of M. incognita infected plants. In planta trials revealed that 100 ppm dose of MgO nanoparticles, as root dip application, demonstrated reduced nematode fecundity, decreased number and smaller size of galls; enhanced plant growth, increased chlorophyll, carotenoid, seed protein, and root and shoot nitrogen contents. From these findings it could be inferred that MgO nanoparticles played twin roles, first as a nematicidal agent and the other as growth promotion inducer.

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.