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Biostimulation and toxicity constitute the continuous response spectrum of a biological organism against physicochemical or biological factors. Among the environmental agents capable ...of inducing biostimulation or toxicity are nanomaterials. On the < 100 nm scale, nanomaterials impose both physical effects resulting from the core’s and corona’s surface properties, and chemical effects related to the core’s composition and the corona’s functional groups.
The purpose of this review is to describe the impact of nanomaterials on microorganisms and plants, considering two of the most studied physical and chemical properties: size and concentration.
Using a graphical analysis, the presence of a continuous biostimulation-toxicity spectrum is shown considering different biological responses. In microorganisms, the results showed high susceptibility to nanomaterials. Simultaneously, in plants, a hormetic response was found related to nanomaterials concentration and, in a few cases, a positive response in the smaller nanomaterials when these were applied at a higher level. With the above, it is concluded that: (1) microorganisms are more susceptible to nanomaterials than plants, (2) practically all nanomaterials seem to induce responses from biostimulation to toxicity in plants, and (3) the kind of response observed will depend in a complex way on the nanomateriaĺs physical and chemical characteristics, of the biological species with which they interact, and of the form and route of application and on the nature of the medium -soil, soil pore water, and biological surfaces- where the interaction occurs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Main conclusion
Advances in nanotechnology make it an important tool for improving agricultural production. Strong evidence supports the role of nanomaterials as nutrients or nanocarriers for the ...controlled release of fertilizers to improve plant growth. Scientific research shows that nanotechnology applied in plant sciences is smart technology.
Excessive application of mineral fertilizers has produced a harmful impact on the ecosystem. Furthermore, the projected increase in the human population by 2050 has led to the search for alternatives to ensure food security. Nanotechnology is a promising strategy to enhance crop productivity while minimizing fertilizer inputs. Nanofertilizers can contribute to the slow and sustainable release of nutrients to improve the efficiency of nutrient use in plants. Nanomaterial properties (i.e., size, morphology and charge) and plant physiology are crucial factors that influence the impact on plant growth. An important body of scientific research highlights the role of carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles to improve plant development through the modulation of physiological and metabolic processes. Modulating nutrient concentrations, photosynthesis processes and antioxidant enzyme activities have led to increases in shoot length, root development, photosynthetic pigments and fruit yield. In parallel, nanocarriers (nanoclays, nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite, mesoporous silica and chitosan) have been shown to be an important tool for the controlled and sustainable release of conventional fertilizers to improve plant nutrition; however, the technical advances in nanofertilizers need to be accompanied by modernization of the regulations and legal frameworks to allow wider commercialization of these elements. Nanofertilizers are a promising strategy to improve plant development and nutrition, but their application in sustainable agriculture remains a great challenge. The present review summarizes the current advance of research into nanofertilizers, and their future prospects.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
is a serious human pathogen that is highly adaptive to environmental conditions and rapidly develops antibiotic resistance. The use of efflux pumps to reduce antibiotic concentrations at the ...intracellular level is one of the main mechanisms by which bacteria develop antibiotic resistance. The management of efflux pumps, specifically NorA, which is expressed by
strains, is a valuable strategy for restoring susceptibility in strains resistant to antibacterial agents. In recent years, many studies have focused on searching for natural substances that can reverse efflux pump-mediated resistance in
. Extracts and compounds obtained from plants can be efficient efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) and represent a potentially patient-friendly strategy for controlling
. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of essential oils, petroleum ether extracts, dichloromethane extract (DCME) and six compounds isolated from the heartwood of
(Cupressaceae) and two synthetic derivatives to inhibit efflux in NorA pumps in the following three
strains: K2378, which overexpressed the
gene (
++), K1902 (
-deleted, Δ
) and the parental strain, NCTC 8325-4. Efflux activity was evaluated using a fluorometric method that measured the accumulation of the universal efflux pump substrate ethidium bromide (EtBr). Only DCME and the compounds 15-copaenol and
-cubenol inhibited EtBr efflux by K2378. Even the lowest concentration of 15-copaenol exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect than carbonyl cyanide
-chlorophenyl hydrazone on EtBr efflux by K2378. 15-copaenal only showed inhibition of EtBr efflux in K2378 cells at 125 μg/mL, but not superior to the control inhibitor and 15-copaenyl acetate exerted no intrinsic EPI activity against K2378. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values obtained in the checkerboard assays, indicated that all combinations between DCME,
-cubenol and 15-copaenol, and tested antibiotics showed a synergistic effect in wild type,
and Δ
strains. Moreover, those were not toxic for the HeLa cell line at concentrations in which the synergistic effect and inhibitory activity of efflux pumps was determined. Other extracts and compounds obtained from
did not display EtBr efflux-inhibiting activity against the evaluated
strains.
Much progress has been achieved in the preparation and application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in the field of medicine, mainly for antibacterial and antiviral applications. In the war against ...bacteria and viruses, besides traditional antibiotics and antiviral drugs, metal-based nanoparticles, such as silver (AgNPs), copper (CuNPs), copper oxides (CuO-NPs), iron oxide (FeO-NPs), zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs), and titanium oxide (TiO
-NPs) have been used as potent antimicrobial agents. These nanoparticles can be synthesized by traditional methods, such as chemical and physical routes, or more recently by biogenic processes. A great variety of macro and microorganisms can be successfully used as reducing agents of metal salt precursors in the biogenic synthesis of metal-based NPs for antimicrobial activity. Depending on the nature of the biological agent, NPs with different sizes, aggregation states, morphology, surface coatings and charges can be obtained, leading to different antimicrobial effects. Considering the drug resistance to traditional therapies, the development of versatile nanomaterials with potent antimicrobial effects is under intensive investigation. In this sense, this review presents and discusses the recent progress in the preparation and application of metal-based nanoparticles biogenically synthesized for antibacterial and antivirus applications. The strength and limitations are critically discussed.
In a scenario of accelerated global climate change, the continuous growth of the world population, and the excessive use of chemical fertiliser, the search for sustainable alternatives for ...agricultural production is crucial. The present study was conducted to evaluate the plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics of two yeast strains, Candida guilliermondii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and the physicochemical characteristics of nanometric capsules and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3-NPs) for the formulation of nanobiofertilisers. The physiological and productive effects were evaluated in a greenhouse assay using lettuce plants. The results showed that C. guilliermondii exhibited higher tricalcium phosphate solubilisation capacity, and R. mucilaginosa had a greater indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content. The encapsulation of C. guilliermondii in sodium alginate capsules significantly improved the growth, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic rate of the lettuce plants. Physicochemical characterisation of the Fe2O3-NPs revealed a particle size of 304.1 nm and a negative Z-potential, which indicated their stability and suitability for agricultural applications. The incorporation of Fe2O3-NPs into the capsules was confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis, which showed the presence of Fe as the main element. In summary, this study highlights the potential of nanobiofertilisers containing yeast strains encapsulated in sodium alginate with Fe2O3-NPs to improve plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency as a path toward more sustainable agriculture.
Copper oxide nanoparticles (NCuO) have emerged as an alternative to pesticides due to their antifungal effect against various phytopathogens. Combining them with fungicides represents an advantageous ...strategy for reducing the necessary amount of both agents to inhibit fungal growth, simultaneously reducing their environmental release. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of NCuO combined with three fungicide models separately: Iprodione (IPR), Tebuconazole (TEB), and Pyrimethanil (PYR) against two phytopathogenic fungi:
and
The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) was calculated as a synergism indicator (FIC ≤ 0.5). The NCuO interacted synergistically with TEB against both fungi and with IPR only against
. The interaction with PYR was additive against both fungi (FIC > 0.5). The
biomass was inhibited by 80.9% and 93% using 20 mg L
NCuO + 1.56 mg L
TEB, and 40 mg L
NCuO + 12 µg L
IPR, respectively, without significant differences compared to the inhibition provoked by 160 mg L
NCuO. Additionally, the protein leakage and nucleic acid release were also evaluated as mechanisms associated with the synergistic effect. The results obtained in this study revealed that combining nanoparticles with fungicides can be an adequate strategy to significantly reduce the release of metals and agrochemicals into the environment after being used as antifungals.
Nanoparticles are recognized due to their particular physical and chemical properties, which are conferred due to their size, in the range of nanometers. Nanoparticles are recognized for their ...application in medicine, electronics, and the textile industry, among others, but also in agriculture. The application of nanoparticles as nanofertilizers and biostimulants can help improve growth and crop productivity, and it has therefore been mentioned as an essential tool to control the adverse effects of abiotic stress. However, nanoparticles have also been noted for their exceptional antimicrobial properties. Therefore, this work reviews the state of the art of different nanoparticles that have shown the capacity to control biotic stress in plants. In this regard, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and others, such as silica nanoparticles, have been described. Moreover, uptake and translocation are covered. Finally, future remarks about the studies on nanoparticles and their beneficial role in biotic stress management are made.
The excessive application of pesticides and fertilizers has generated losses in biological diversity, environmental pollution, and harmful effects on human health. Under this context, nanotechnology ...constitutes an innovative tool to alleviate these problems. Notably, applying nanocarriers as controlled release systems (CRSs) for agrochemicals can overcome the limitations of conventional products. A CRS for agrochemicals is an eco-friendly strategy for the ecosystem and human health. Nanopesticides based on synthetic and natural polymers, nanoemulsions, lipid nanoparticles, and nanofibers reduce phytopathogens and plant diseases. Nanoproducts designed with an environmentally responsive, controlled release offer great potential to create formulations that respond to specific environmental stimuli. The formulation of nanofertilizers is focused on enhancing the action of nutrients and growth stimulators, which show an improved nutrient release with site-specific action using nanohydroxyapatite, nanoclays, chitosan nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and amorphous calcium phosphate. However, despite the noticeable results for nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, research still needs to be improved. Here, we review the relevant antecedents in this topic and discuss limitations and future challenges.
Agricultural practices require novel products that allow sustainable development and commercial production according to the needs of farmers and consumers. Therefore, in the last decade, eco-friendly ...alternatives have been studied, so volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by microorganisms have emerged as a cheaper, effective, efficient, and an eco-friendly alternative. VOCs are lipophilic compounds derived from microbial metabolic pathways with low molecular weight (<300 g mol−1), low boiling point, and high vapor pressure that allow them to act as signal molecules over short and long distances. Main case studies provide evidence that VOCs released from diverse microorganisms (i.e. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Fusarium, and Alternaria) can stimulate growth on a specific “target” seedling, such as Arabidopsis and tobacco. Some identified compounds, such as 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (acetoin), 2,3-butanediol, 2-pentylfuran, or dimethylhexadecylmine have shown their ability to elicit growth at root or leaf level. Few studies indicate that VOCs act in the regulation at phytohormone, metabolic pathways and nutrition levels according to genetic, proteomic, and metabolic analyses; but action mechanisms associated with growth-inducing activity are poorly understood. In this work, we reviewed case studies regarding identified compounds and action mechanisms for a better understanding of the information collected so far. Additionally, a brief description about the effects of VOCs for induction of resistance and tolerance in plants are presented, where compounds such as acetoin, dimethyl disulfide, 3-pentanol and 6-pentyl-α-pyrone have been reported. Furthermore, we summarized the knowledge to direct future studies that propose microbial VOCs as a technological innovation in agriculture and horticulture.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
At the forefront of agricultural innovation, copper-based nanoparticles (Cu-based NPs) have seized global attention in recent years, revolutionizing fields as diverse as electronics, medicine, and, ...notably, agriculture. Their prowess in combating phytopathogenic microorganisms, boosting plant yield and defenses, and their dual role as pesticides or fertilizers - depending on the dosage - positions them at the epicenter of exciting scientific advancements. However, this is a two-edged sword: the environmental impact of Cu-based NPs is an escalating concern. The release of these particles post-use raises serious questions about the accumulation of toxic copper levels in soil and, consequently, in crops. In a market with rising metal nanoparticles, a deeper exploration is essential to balance the benefits and risks associated with Cu-based NPs in agriculture. This review synthesizes the state-of-the-art Cu-based NP synthesis, their application as antimicrobial agents, pesticides, and fertilizers, and their interactions with soil, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we delve into future perspectives, spotlighting the research gaps in Cu-based NP studies that beckon for attention in the coming years.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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