Revolutionizing Sustainable Agriculture With Nano-Priming Technology: A Leap Towards Resilient and High-Yield Crops

Introduction

Nano priming in agriculture revolutionizes seed treatment strategies by utilizing the advantageous surface area-to-volume ratio and customized surface chemistry of nanoparticles. Traditional farming methods also contribute to environmental pollution due to their reliance on pesticides and fertilizers (Rajput et al., 2018). Since 90% of the world's food crops start as seeds, seed is an essential component of long-term agricultural output and productivity (Shelar et al., 2023). A plant's life cycle begins with seed germination, and in certain ecosystems, such as rangeland and agricultural land, proper germination is essential to the survival and conservation of plant species (Manjaiah et al., 2018). Research has demonstrated that nanomaterials can enhance the germination process of seeds through various mechanisms. These include creating nanopores in the seed coat, introducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhancing enzyme activity at sites that break down starch, and introducing ROS to the seed coat itself. Plant hormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are two of many signalling molecules that control when seeds germinate. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) keep abscisic acid, auxins, gibberellins, and ethylene in check, and they regulate gene expression and phytohormone signalling (Nile et al., 2022).

Nanomaterials, and nanoparticles in particular, have the potential to improve crop protection (Scott et al., 2018). Several agricultural companies have taken an interest in this promising field of research, which has led to the incorporation of nanoparticles into various formulations (Chau et al., 2019). According to Acharya et al. (2020) and Rajput et al. (2021c), pest control, plant nutrition, and environmentally responsible production methods are all possible applications for nanopesticides and nanofertilizers.