Nanobiotechnology for Plants: Needs and Risks

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Plant Biotechnology Dept., Genetic Engineering Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt

2 Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra Elkheima, Cairo, Egypt

3 Plant Botany, Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Dept., University of Debrecen, Hungary

4 Soil and Water Sciences Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh Uni., Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

5 Biological and Environmental Sciences Dept., Home Economics Faculty, Al-Azhar Uni, Egypt

6 Horticulture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh Uni., Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

7 Botany Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

8 Agriculture Microbiology Dept., Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt

Abstract

NANOTECHNOLOGY has been revolutionized penetrating all sectors in our life through the nanoscience as an essential science for a wide range of technologies. Amazing achievements resulted from this nanotechnology including all agricultural fields such as plant nutrition and crop productivity, energy sector, food sector, and plant biotechnology. A conjugation between plant biotechnology and nanotechnology has been produced an important science called plant bio-nanotechnology. Several fields have been invaded through different nanobiotechnology applications in agriculture including (1) the nanotechnology of encapsulated agro-chemicals, (2) the monitoring of different environmental stresses and crop conditions using nanobiosensors, (3) the improvement of crop production and ameliorating plants against diseases and (4) solution several environmental problems. The crop productivity also could be improved using some new agro-chemicals (e.g., nanofertilizers and nanopesticides). These agro-chemicals are very effective in delivering encapsulating nanomaterials and then enhancement the productivity of crops as well as the suppress plant pests and diseases and protecting the environment from pollution. On the other hand, nanoparticles could enter the food chain via different nano-agrochemicals or nano-processed foods. Therefore, many approaches including uptake of nanoparticles by plants, entry and bio-distribution of nanoparticles into the food chain are needed before using of different bionanotechnological tools in agro-production sector. Further new regulations should be created or re-built for new approaches in plant bionanotechnology. Therefore, this review will focus on our needs and risks in the plant nano-biotechnology.

Keywords

Main Subjects