Strategic nanoparticle-mediated plant disease resistance

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a promising means for development of sustainable agriculture while the study of nanoparticle-mediated plant disease resistance is still in its primary stage. Nanotechnology has shown great promise in regulating: the content of secondary metabolites, inducing disease resistance genes, delivering hormones, delivering biomolecules (such as: nucleotides, proteins, and activators), and obtaining transgenic plants to resist plant diseases. In this review, we conclude its versatility and applicability in disease management strategies and diagnostics and as molecular tools. With the advent of new biotechnologies (e.g. de novo regeneration, CRISPR/Cas9, and GRF4-GIF1 fusion protein), we discuss the potential of nanoparticles as an optimal platform to deliver biomolecules to plants for genetic engineering. In order to ensure the safe use and social acceptance of plant nanoparticle technology, its adverse effects are discussed, including the risk of transferring nanoparticles through the food chain.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticle
• gene transformation
• de novo regeneration
• Cas9/CRISPR

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China [2019YFC1711000], National Science and Technology Major Project [2017ZX09101002-003-002], The Shanghai Rising-Star Program [18QB1402700, China], Shanghai Science and Technology Foundation [YDZX20203100002948], the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation in China [20ZR1453800], and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [32070332, 81673550, 81874335]