Nanomaterial-Assisted Seed Priming for Salinity and Drought Tolerance: Mechanisms, Risks, and Pathways to Field Adoption
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jnsrr/V2E1/2026-02Keywords:
Seed priming, nanomaterials, nanoparticles, abiotic stress, nanotoxicity, metal oxide nanoparticlesAbstract
Seed germination and early seedling establishment are critical determinants of crop yield stability under salinity and drought stress conditions. Nanomaterial-assisted seed priming (nano-priming) has emerged as a promising approach to enhance stress tolerance by leveraging the unique physicochemical properties of nanoscale materials. This review synthesizes evidence from 2014–2025 on the application of diverse nanomaterials including metal oxides (ZnO, TiO₂, CeO₂, CuO), selenium nanoparticles, nano-silica, chitosan nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and composite systems—for seed priming under abiotic stress. We examine reported agronomic outcomes, mechanistic insights involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, antioxidant enzyme induction, hormone modulation, and ion homeostasis, alongside dose-response relationships. Comparative studies demonstrate that nanoparticulate forms exhibit different toxicity profiles than bulk or ionic forms (Du et al., 2019; García-Gómez et al., 2018). Phytotoxicity assessments reveal material- and crop-specific thresholds, with CuO and ZnO inducing phytotoxicity through metal speciation changes in wheat (Dimkpa et al., 2012). Genotoxicity concerns exist at high concentrations (Panda et al., 2011). and toxicity thresholds. Critical knowledge gaps are identified in standardized characterization protocols, environmental fate assessment, long-term ecological impacts, and socioeconomic feasibility. While laboratory and controlled studies consistently demonstrate germination enhancement and stress mitigation at optimal doses, field-scale validation, regulatory frameworks, and comprehensive risk assessments remain underdeveloped. This review provides concrete recommendations for methodological standardization, multi-site field trials, fate-tracking studies, and stakeholder engagement to facilitate safe and effective translation of nano-priming technologies from laboratory to agricultural practice.
References
Abdel-Aziz, H. M. M., Hasaneen, M. N. A., & Omer, A. M. (2018). Impact of engineered nanomaterials either alone or loaded with NPK on growth and productivity of French bean plants: Seed priming vs foliar application. South African Journal of Botany, 114, 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.10.023
Abdel-Latef, A. A. H., Abu Alhmad, M. F., & Saud, S. (2017). Influence of indole-3-acetic acid on growth and some biochemical aspects of Lupinus termis L. plants under seawater stress. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 92(3), 289-296. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2016.1265903
Afzal, I., Javed, T., Amirkhani, M., & Taylor, A. G. (2020). Modern seed technology: Seed coating delivery systems for enhancing seed and crop performance. Agriculture, 10(11), 526. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10110526
Alabdallah, N. M., Alzahrani, H. S., & Hasan, M. M. (2021). Zinc oxide nanoparticles improve tomato growth under drought stress by regulating antioxidant systems and photosynthesis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 167, 380-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.08.025
Alhammad, B. A., Ahmad, A., Seleiman, M. F., & Tola, E. (2023). Seed priming with nanoparticles and 24-epibrassinolide improved seed germination and enzymatic performance of Zea mays L. in salt-stressed soil. Plants, 12(4), 690. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040690
Ali, S., Rizwan, M., Noureen, S., Anwar, S., Ali, B., Naveed, M., ... & Ok, Y. S. (2019). Combined use of biochar and zinc oxide nanoparticle foliar spray improved the plant growth and decreased the cadmium accumulation in rice. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(11), 11288-11299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04554-y
Amritha, K. C., Kumar, K. S., & Jayasree, P. R. (2021). Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced modifications in the germination and enzymatic profile of Oryza sativa L. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 40(5), 2114-2125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10257-1
Asgari, F., Majd, A., Jonoubi, P., & Najafi, F. (2018). Effects of silicon nanoparticles on molecular, chemical, structural and ultrastructural characteristics of oat (Avena sativa L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 127, 152-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.03.021
Bala, R., Kalia, A., & Dhaliwal, S. S. (2019). Evaluation of efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles as remedial zinc nanofertilizer for rice. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 19(2), 379-389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00040-z
Baskar, V., Venkatesh, R., & Ramalingam, S. (2018). Flavonoids (antioxidants systems) in higher plants and their response to stresses. In D. K. Gupta, J. M. Palma, & F. J. Corpas (Eds.), Antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in higher plants (pp. 253-268). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75088-0_12
Behboudi, F., Tahmasebi-Sarvestani, Z., Kassaee, M. Z., Modarres-Sanavy, S. A. M., Sorooshzadeh, A., & Mokhtassi-Bidgoli, A. (2019). Evaluation of chitosan nanoparticles effects with two application methods on wheat under drought stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 42(13), 1439-1451. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2019.1617308
Bukhari, M. A., Ahmad, Z., Ashraf, M. Y., Afzal, M., Nawaz, F., Nafees, M., ... & Maqsood, M. F. (2023). Silicon and zinc oxide nanoparticles improve the drought resilience and zinc biofortification of wheat by modulating the antioxidant enzymes and essential oil profile. Agronomy, 13(4), 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041161
Cai, L., Liu, M., Liu, Z., Yang, H., Sun, X., Chen, J., ... & Guo, J. (2018). MgONPs can boost plant growth: Evidence from increased seedling growth, morpho-physiological activities, and Mg uptake in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Molecules, 23(12), 3375. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23123375
Chandra, S., Chakraborty, N., Dasgupta, A., Sarkar, J., Panda, K., & Acharya, K. (2015). Chitosan nanoparticles: A positive modulator of innate immune responses in plants. Scientific Reports, 5, 15195. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep15195
Davies, P. J. (2023). The plant hormones: Their nature, occurrence, and functions. In P. J. Davies (Ed.), Plant hormones: Biosynthesis, signal transduction, action! (4th ed., pp. 1-35). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6988-5_1
Dimkpa, C. O., McLean, J. E., Latta, D. E., Manangón, E., Britt, D. W., Johnson, W. P., ... & Anderson, A. J. (2012). CuO and ZnO nanoparticles: Phytotoxicity, metal speciation, and induction of oxidative stress in sand-grown wheat. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 14, 1125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1125-9
Djanaguiraman, M., Nair, R., Giraldo, J. P., & Prasad, P. V. V. (2018). Cerium oxide nanoparticles decrease drought-induced oxidative damage in sorghum leading to higher photosynthesis and grain yield. ACS Omega, 3(10), 14406-14416. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b01894
Du, W., Yang, J., Peng, Q., Liang, X., & Mao, H. (2019). Comparison study of zinc nanoparticles and zinc sulphate on wheat growth: From toxicity and zinc biofortification. Chemosphere, 227, 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.168
Duhan, J. S., Kumar, R., Kumar, N., Kaur, P., Nehra, K., & Duhan, S. (2017). Nanotechnology: The new perspective in precision agriculture. Biotechnology Reports, 15, 11-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2017.03.002
El-Badri, A. M., Hashem, A. M., Batool, M., Sherif, A., Nishawy, E., Hassan, H. M., ... & Kuai, J. (2021). Comparative efficacy of bio-selenium nanoparticles and sodium selenite on morpho-physiological attributes of Brassica napus L. under heat stress. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 222, 112523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112523
El-Saadony, M. T., Saad, A. M., Soliman, S. M., Salem, H. M., Ahmed, A. I., Mahmood, M., ... & Elrys, A. S. (2022). Plant growth-promoting microorganisms as biocontrol agents of plant diseases: Mechanisms, challenges and future perspectives. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 923880. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.923880
Faizan, M., Faraz, A., Yusuf, M., Khan, S. T., & Hayat, S. (2018). Zinc oxide nanoparticle-mediated changes in photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant system of tomato plants. Photosynthetica, 56(2), 678-686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-017-0717-0
Farooq, M. A., Islam, F., Ayyaz, A., Chen, W., Noor, Y., Hu, W., ... & Zhou, W. (2022). Mitigation effects of exogenous melatonin-selenium nanoparticles on arsenic-induced stress in Brassica napus. Environmental Pollution, 292, 118473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118473
Feizi, H., Kamali, M., Jafari, L., & Rezvani Moghaddam, P. (2014). Phytotoxicity and stimulatory impacts of nanosized and bulk titanium dioxide on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Chemosphere, 91(4), 506-511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.12.012
Fregonezi, G. A. F., Aguiar, R. W. S., Grisolia, C. K., Pontes, M. S., Oliveira, F. A., Gonçalves, K. C. S., ... & Santos, R. F. (2024). Nanoencapsulation of gibberellic acid improves seed germination and vigor of tomato seedlings. Scientific Reports, 14, 3847. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54321-2
Gad-Allah, T. A., Ali, M. E., Badawy, M. I., & Yoon, Y. (2024). Advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment. In M. N. V. Prasad (Ed.), Handbook of bioremediation (pp. 285-310). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819382-2.00018-6
Gao, M., Zhou, J., Liu, H., Zhang, W., Hu, Y., Liang, J., & Zhou, J. (2024). Foliar spraying with silicon and selenium nanoparticles alleviates cadmium toxicity in rice seedlings. Environmental Pollution, 340, 122825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122825
García-Gómez, C., Obrador, A., González, D., Babín, M., & Fernández, M. D. (2018). Comparative effect of ZnO NPs, ZnO bulk and ZnSO₄ in the antioxidant defences of two plant species growing in two agricultural soils under greenhouse conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 589, 11-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.153
García-López, J. I., Zavala-García, F., Olivares-Sáenz, E., Lira-Saldívar, R. H., Barriga-Castro, E. D., Ruiz-Torres, N. A., ... & Niño-Medina, G. (2018). Zinc oxide nanoparticles boosts phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Capsicum annuum L. during germination. Agronomy, 8(10), 215. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8100215
Gholami, R., Amini, R., & Ezz, M. (2022). Nano-priming with zinc oxide improves germination and early seedling growth of wheat under salinity stress. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 41(6), 2447-2459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10459-2
Ghosh, S., Mitra, S., Paul, A., Mitra, D., Brahmachari, K., Khoshru, B., ... & Maitra, S. (2024). Nano-enabled agrochemicals: A new paradigm for improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. Agronomy, 14(3), 493. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030493
Gohari, G., Mohammadi, A., Akbari, A., Panahirad, S., Dadpour, M. R., Fotopoulos, V., & Kimura, S. (2020). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) promote growth and ameliorate salinity stress effects on essential oil profile and biochemical attributes of Dracocephalum moldavica. Scientific Reports, 10, 912. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-57794-1
Haghighi, M., & Pessarakli, M. (2013). Influence of silicon and nano-silicon on salinity tolerance of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at early growth stage. Scientia Horticulturae, 161, 111-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.06.034
Hasanpour, H., Maali-Amiri, R., & Zeinali, H. (2015). Effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles on metabolic limitations to photosynthesis under cold in chickpea. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 62(6), 779-787. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443715060084
Hu, J., Guo, H., Li, J., Gan, Q., Wang, Y., & Xing, B. (2017). Comparative impacts of iron oxide nanoparticles and ferric ions on the growth of Citrus maxima. Environmental Pollution, 221, 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.11.064
Ishtiaq, M., Maqbool, M., Aslam, A., Hussain, N., Iqbal, J., Gul, H., ... & Mazhar, M. W. (2023). Selenium nanoparticles enhance morpho-physiological attributes and mitigate salinity stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. Agronomy, 13(8), 2095. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082095
Itroutwar, P. D., Govindaraju, K., Tamilselvan, S., Kannan, M., Raja, K., & Subramanian, K. S. (2020). Seaweed-based biogenic ZnO nanoparticles for improving agro-morphological characteristics of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 39(2), 717-728. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10012-3
Jaberzadeh, A., Moaveni, P., Moghadam, H. R. T., & Zahedi, H. (2013). Influence of bulk and nanoparticles titanium foliar application on some agronomic traits, seed gluten and starch contents of wheat subjected to water deficit stress. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 41(1), 201-207. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha4119093
Javed, R., Yucesan, B., Zia, M., & Gurel, E. (2017). Elicitation of secondary metabolites in callus cultures of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni grown under ZnO and CuO nanoparticles stress. Sugar Tech, 19(6), 693-701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0509-5
Kang, S. M., Shahzad, R., Bilal, S., Khan, M. A., Park, Y. G., Lee, K. E., ... & Lee, I. J. (2025). Indole-3-acetic acid and ACC deaminase producing Leclercia adecarboxylata MO1 improves Solanum lycopersicum L. growth and salinity stress tolerance by endogenous secondary metabolites regulation. BMC Microbiology, 25, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-024-03638-w
Kasote, D. M., Katyare, S. S., Hegde, M. V., & Bae, H. (2015). Significance of antioxidant potential of plants and its relevance to therapeutic applications. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 11(8), 982-991. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.12096
Khan, I., Awan, S. A., Rizwan, M., Ali, S., Hassan, M. J., Brestic, M., ... & Huang, L. (2024). Selenium-doped carbon dots improve rapeseed germination and seedling vigor under salinity stress. Journal of Cleaner Production, 434, 140213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140213
Khan, M. N., Mobin, M., Abbas, Z. K., AlMutairi, K. A., & Siddiqui, Z. H. (2017). Role of nanomaterials in plants under challenging environments. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110, 194-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.05.038
Khodakovskaya, M. V., de Silva, K., Nedosekin, D. A., Dervishi, E., Biris, A. S., Shashkov, E. V., ... & Zharov, V. P. (2013). Complex genetic, photothermal, and photoacoustic analysis of nanoparticle-plant interactions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(3), 1028-1033. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1008856108
Konate, A., He, X., Zhang, Z., Ma, Y., Zhang, P., Alugongo, G. M., & Rui, Y. (2017). Magnetic (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles reduce heavy metals uptake and mitigate their toxicity in wheat seedling. Sustainability, 9(5), 790. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9050790
Kumar, V., Guleria, P., Kumar, V., & Yadav, S. K. (2013). Gold nanoparticle exposure induces growth and yield enhancement in Arabidopsis thaliana. Science of the Total Environment, 461-462, 462-468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.018
Latef, A. A. H. A., Srivastava, A. K., El-sadek, M. S. A., Kordrostami, M., & Tran, L. S. P. (2018). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles improve growth and enhance tolerance of broad bean plants under saline soil conditions. Land Degradation & Development, 29(4), 1065-1073. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2780
Lee, S., Kim, S., Kim, S., & Lee, I. (2013). Assessment of phytotoxicity of ZnO NPs on a medicinal plant, Fagopyrum esculentum. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(2), 848-854. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1069-8
Li, J., Hu, J., Ma, C., Wang, Y., Wu, C., Huang, J., & Xing, B. (2016). Uptake, translocation and physiological effects of magnetic iron oxide (γ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles in corn (Zea mays L.). Chemosphere, 159, 326-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.05.083
Lian, J., Zhao, L., Wu, J., Xiong, H., Bao, Y., Zeb, A., ... & Tang, J. (2020). Foliar spray of TiO₂ nanoparticles prevails over root application in reducing Cd accumulation and mitigating Cd-induced phytotoxicity in maize (Zea mays L.). Chemosphere, 239, 124794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124794
Liu, R., & Lal, R. (2015). Potentials of engineered nanoparticles as fertilizers for increasing agronomic productions. Science of the Total Environment, 514, 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.104
Ma, C., White, J. C., Dhankher, O. P., & Xing, B. (2015). Metal-based nanotoxicity and detoxification pathways in higher plants. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(12), 7109-7122. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00685
Mahakham, W., Sarmah, A. K., Maensiri, S., & Theerakulpisut, P. (2017). Nanopriming technology for enhancing germination and starch metabolism of aged rice seeds using phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles. Scientific Reports, 7, 8263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08669-5
Maswada, H. F., Djanaguiraman, M., & Prasad, P. V. V. (2018). Seed treatment with nano-iron (III) oxide enhances germination, seeding growth and salinity tolerance of sorghum. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 204(6), 577-587. https://doi.org/10.1111/jac.12280
Mazhar, M. W., Ishtiaq, M., Maqbool, M., Akram, R., Shahid, A., Shokralla, S., ... & Abdelbacki, A. M. M. (2022). Seed nano-priming with zinc oxide nanoparticles in rice mitigates drought and enhances agronomic profile. Agronomy, 12(7), 1379. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061379
Mohammadi, R., Maali-Amiri, R., & Abbasi, A. (2014). Effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles on chickpea response to cold stress. Biological Trace Element Research, 152(3), 403-410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9631-x
Mosavikia, F., Mosavi, A. A., Seghatoleslami, M. J., & Jonoubi, P. (2020). Copper-chitosan nanoparticles effects on germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought stress conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43(20), 3140-3154. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1806306
Mu, X., Wang, Y., Zhao, S., & Zhao, X. (2023). Comparative effects of seed priming with selenium nanoparticles and sodium selenite on germination and physiological characteristics of rice under salt stress. Plant Growth Regulation, 99(2), 389-400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-022-00920-x
Nair, P. M. G., & Chung, I. M. (2014). Physiological and molecular level effects of silver nanoparticles exposure in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. Chemosphere, 112, 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.03.056
Ochoa-Chaparro, J. A., Medina-Velo, I. A., Hernández-Viezcas, J. A., Peralta-Videa, J. R., & Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2025). Nanotechnology in agriculture: Opportunities, toxicological implications, and occupational risks. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 482, 116788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2024.116788
Palmqvist, N. G. M., Seisenbaeva, G. A., Svedlindh, P., & Kessler, V. G. (2017). Maghemite nanoparticles acts as nanozymes, improving growth and abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica napus. Nanoscale Research Letters, 12, 631. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-017-2404-2
Paramo, L. A., Feregrino-Pérez, A. A., Guevara, R., Mendoza, S., & Esquivel, K. (2020). Nanoparticles in agroindustry: Applications, toxicity, challenges, and trends. Nanomaterials, 10(9), 1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano1009165
Pereira, A. E. S., Silva, P. M., Oliveira, J. L., Oliveira, H. C., & Fraceto, L. F. (2017). Chitosan nanoparticles as carrier systems for the plant growth hormone gibberellic acid. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 150, 141-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.11.027
Prasad, T. N. V. K. V., Sudhakar, P., Sreenivasulu, Y., Latha, P., Munaswamy, V., Raja Reddy, K., ... & Pradeep, T. (2012). Effect of nanoscale zinc oxide particles on the germination, growth and yield of peanut. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 35(6), 905-927. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2012.663443
Qi, M., Liu, Y., & Li, T. (2013). Nano-TiO₂ improve the photosynthesis of tomato leaves under mild heat stress. Biological Trace Element Research, 156(1-3), 323-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9833-2
Rai-Kalal, P., Tomar, R. S., & Jajoo, A. (2021). H₂O₂ signaling regulates seed germination in ZnO nanoprimed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 187, 104483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104483
Raliya, R., & Tarafdar, J. C. (2013). ZnO nanoparticle biosynthesis and its effect on phosphorous-mobilizing enzyme secretion and gum contents in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.). Agricultural Research, 2(1), 48-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-012-0049-z
Rao, S., & Shekhawat, G. S. (2014). Toxicity of ZnO engineered nanoparticles and evaluation of their effect on growth, metabolism and tissue specific accumulation in Brassica juncea. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2(1), 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2013.11.029
Rastogi, A., Zivcak, M., Sytar, O., Kalaji, H. M., He, X., Mbarki, S., & Brestic, M. (2017). Impact of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles on plant: A critical review. Frontiers in Chemistry, 5, 78. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2017.00078
Rizwan, M., Ali, S., Qayyum, M. F., Ok, Y. S., Adrees, M., Ibrahim, M., ... & Abbas, F. (2019). Effect of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles on growth and physiology of globally important food crops: A critical review. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 322, 2-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.061
Rookes, J. E., & Arya, S. S. (2023). Nanoparticle-mediated seed priming: A novel approach for sustainable agriculture. In R. Prasad, V. Kumar, & M. Kumar (Eds.), Plant nanobionics (Vol. 2, pp. 189-215). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20878-2_8
Rui, M., Ma, C., Hao, Y., Guo, J., Rui, Y., Tang, X., ... & Zhu, S. (2016). Iron oxide nanoparticles as a potential iron fertilizer for peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 815. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00815
Saharan, V., Sharma, G., Yadav, M., Choudhary, M. K., Sharma, S. S., Pal, A., ... & Biswas, P. (2016). Synthesis and in vitro antifungal efficacy of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles against pathogenic fungi of tomato. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 75, 346-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.01.027
Semida, W. M., Abdelkhalik, A., Mohamed, G. F., Abd El-Mageed, T. A., Abd El-Mageed, S. A., Rady, M. M., & Ali, E. F. (2021). Foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles promotes drought stress tolerance in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Plants, 10(2), 421. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020421
Sepúlveda, A., Pinto, K., Correa, F., Maldonado, A., Cabeza, R. A., & Schwember, A. R. (2022). Selenium nanoparticles enhance germination and seedling vigor of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under salinity stress. Plants, 11(21), 2894. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212894
Shankramma, K., Yallappa, S., Shivanna, M. B., & Manjanna, J. (2016). Fe₂O₃ magnetic nanoparticles to enhance S. lycopersicum (tomato) plant growth and their biomineralization. Applied Nanoscience, 6(7), 983-990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-015-0510-y
Sharma, P., Bhatt, D., Zaidi, M. G. H., Saradhi, P. P., Khanna, P. K., & Arora, S. (2012). Silver nanoparticle-mediated enhancement in growth and antioxidant status of Brassica juncea. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 167(8), 2225-2233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9759-8
Shelar, A., Singh, A. V., Maharjan, R. S., Laux, P., Luch, A., Gemmati, D., ... & Tisato, V. (2024). Sustainable agriculture through multidisciplinary seed nanopriming: Prospects of opportunities and challenges. Cells, 13(4), 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13040329
Siddiqui, M. H., & Al-Whaibi, M. H. (2014). Role of nano-SiO₂ in germination of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum seeds Mill.). Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 21(1), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2013.04.005
Siddiqui, M. H., Al-Whaibi, M. H., Faisal, M., & Al Sahli, A. A. (2014). Nano-silicon dioxide mitigates the adverse effects of salt stress on Cucurbita pepo L. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 33(11), 2429-2437. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.2697
Singh, A., Singh, N. B., Afzal, S., Singh, T., & Hussain, I. (2018). Zinc oxide nanoparticles: A review of their biological synthesis, antimicrobial activity, uptake, translocation and biotransformation in plants. Journal of Materials Science, 53(1), 185-201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1544-1
Song, G., Gao, Y., Wu, H., Hou, W., Zhang, C., & Ma, H. (2012). Physiological effect of anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles on Lemna minor. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31(9), 2147-2152. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.1933
Suriyaprabha, R., Karunakaran, G., Yuvakkumar, R., Rajendran, V., & Kannan, N. (2014). Foliar application of silica nanoparticles on the phytochemical responses of marigold flowers. IET Nanobiotechnology, 8(1), 27-30. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-nbt.2012.0028
Taran, N., Storozhenko, V., Svietlova, N., Batsmanova, L., Shvartau, V., & Kovalenko, M. (2017). Effect of zinc and copper nanoparticles on drought resistance of wheat seedlings. Nanoscale Research Letters, 12, 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-017-1839-9
Tarafdar, J. C., Raliya, R., Mahawar, H., & Rathore, I. (2014). Development of zinc nanofertilizer to enhance crop production in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum). Agricultural Research, 3(3), 257-262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-014-0113-y
Tripathi, D. K., Shweta, Singh, S., Singh, S., Pandey, R., Singh, V. P., ... & Chauhan, D. K. (2017). An overview on manufactured nanoparticles in plants: Uptake, translocation, accumulation and phytotoxicity. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110, 2-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.07.030
Venkatachalam, P., Priyanka, N., Manikandan, K., Ganeshbabu, I., Indiraarulselvi, P., Geetha, N., ... & Bhattacharya, R. C. (2017). Enhanced plant growth promoting role of phycomolecules coated zinc oxide nanoparticles with P supplementation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110, 118-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.09.004
Wang, P., Menzies, N. W., Lombi, E., McKenna, B. A., Johannessen, B., Glover, C. J., ... & Kopittke, P. M. (2013). Fate of ZnO nanoparticles in soils and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Environmental Science & Technology, 47(23), 13822-13830. https://doi.org/10.1021/es403466p
Wang, X., Xie, H., Wang, P., & Yin, H. (2023). Nanoparticles in plants: Uptake, transport and physiological activity in leaf and root. Materials, 16(8), 3097. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083097
Xiao, Y., Zhu, Z., Li, Q., Shen, Y., Li, Y., Shi, P., ... & Wang, X. (2022). Selenium-doped carbon quantum dots improve drought tolerance of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) by regulating redox homeostasis and ion balance. Environmental Science: Nano, 9(9), 3274-3289. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EN00346E
Yadav, A., Yadav, K., & Abd-Elsalam, K. A. (2024). Nanomaterial-based seed priming: An emerging tool for sustainable agriculture. In K. A. Abd-Elsalam & R. Prasad (Eds.), Nanomaterial applications in plant science (pp. 123-145). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45937-1_7
Yasmeen, F., Raja, N. I., Razzaq, A., Komatsu, S., & Ilyas, N. (2017). Proteomic and physiological analyses of wheat seeds exposed to copper and iron nanoparticles. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, 1865(1), 28-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.10.001
Zafar, H., Ali, A., Ali, J. S., Haq, I. U., & Zia, M. (2016). Effect of ZnO nanoparticles on Brassica nigra seedlings and stem explants: Growth dynamics and antioxidative response. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 535. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00535
Zhang, M., Gao, B., Chen, J., & Li, Y. (2015). Effects of graphene on seed germination and seedling growth. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 17, 78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-2885-9
Zhang, P., Ma, Y., Zhang, Z., He, X., Zhang, J., Guo, Z., ... & Chai, Z. (2012). Biotransformation of ceria nanoparticles in cucumber plants. ACS Nano, 6(11), 9943-9950. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn303543n
Zhao, L., Peralta-Videa, J. R., Rico, C. M., Hernandez-Viezcas, J. A., Sun, Y., Niu, G., ... & Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2014). CeO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles change the nutritional qualities of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62(13), 2752-2759. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf405476u
Zhuang, J., Wang, Y., Chi, Y., Zhou, L., Chen, J., Zhou, W., ... & Wang, Y. (2025). Silicon nanoparticles improve salinity tolerance and grain yield of rice through regulation of ionic balance and antioxidant capacity. Plant Growth Regulation, 103(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-024-01089-3
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Funchious Paul Mensah, Ampah-Korsah Jessica, Brobbey Hannah Appiah, Adjetey Ronald Sowah, Akomanyi Bismark Nyarkoh, Bediako Linda, Bamfo Betina Savannah, Emmanuel Kofi Gomado (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
