Synthesis and role of nanoparticles as immunomodulators against plant biotic stress: Insights into Fusarium wilt management

Abstract

Global population outburst, xenobiotic activity and rapid urbanization challenges agricultural production heavily. Moreover, biotic stress caused by diverse group of pathogens subdued the crop yield dramatically. Among different pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum is a prominent pathogen of cosmopolitan distribution responsible for wilt disease. The fusarial wilt accounts for severe (10–100 %) yield loss for which global agricultural market faces huge economic losses. Scientists constantly tried to contain the wilt disease effectively in multifaceted approach. Most of the work concentrated towards resistance development through genetic manipulation or breeding with the resistant background. Although, effective but due to rapid mutation capability of the pathogen and gene segregation in plants; resistance losses in subsequent generations naturally. Similarly, chemical fungicides are also widely used, tolerance to the particular chemical fungicides gradually diminishes their effectivity. In such situation nanoparticles have emerged as one of the potent alternatives due to their unique chemistry and wonderful biological activities. The nanoparticles can be synthesized chemically or biologically. Due to their high reactive nature and activity in very low concentration, there are minimum ecological, environmental and non-specific biological toxicity. Biosynthesized nanoparticles are further safe and revolutionized the plant immunochemistry immensely. Recently, the direct interaction of nanoparticles with the plant immune response has also been documented. Hence, the present review sheds light on the unique immunomodulatory effect of nanoparticles during plant biotic stress and also comprehensively analyses its potential role in Fusarium wilt management. The review not only highlights different approaches of synthesis, application and delivery of nanoparticles against pathogen with the special reference to Fusarium oxysporum, it also envisages relevant research questions to shape the future direction of the related study.