Nanotechnology improves disease resistance in plants for food security: Applications and challenges

Green synthesis of nano-fertilizers is emerging as a potential strategy and could play a crucial role in disease mitigation, diagnosis, or suppression. Different nanoscale devices (nanoparticles, NPs), biosensors, nano-diagnostic kits, nanofabrication, nanobarcodes, microRNA detection, quantum dots, and nanopore sequencing systems can be used to diagnose plant biotic stress. New research innovations include nanoformulations (nanogels, nanosuspensions, nanoemulsions) and various types of nanoparticles that are useful as nanopesticides (e.g., nanoinsecticids, nanobactericides, nanofungicides and nanonematicides) to enhance plant productivity. These nanomaterials may be involved in different mechanisms of pathogen interactions with plants e.g., ROS production, expression of stress-resistant genes, pathogen cell lysis, and DNA mutation. The optimum use of nano-fertilizers and nanopesticides is a remedy for agriculture and the food industry. The present study endeavors to unveil the mechanisms behind developing resistance against new biotic stresses in fruits and vegetables, and therefore to develop exciting new techniques to resist biotic stress.