Mitigating plant viruses through nanoparticles: Mechanisms, applications and future perspectives

Abstract

Understanding the plant virus mechanism plays a major role in crop protection, production and inturn global food security. To develop an effective ways to protect plants from viruses, it is inevitable to understand these interactions throughly. In recent years, nanoparticles are employed as a tool for mitigation of viral infections in plants. This paper presents the role of both metal and non-metal nanoparticles a potential as antiviral agents, focusing on how they interact with both plants and viruses. For example, metal nanoparticles like silver and gold have been found to hinder the virus transmission directly with them. Non-metal nanoparticles, such as chitosan and carbon-based materials, are also showing potential for protecting plants and fighting viruses. The study discuss how nanoparticles are used to deliver treatments directly to the virus by silencing the viral genes. Nanoparticles are even used in laboratory nano-biosensors that can detect plant viruses by offering novel ways to monitoring and diagnosing infections. In addition, the paper explains how the nanoparticles help the plants to boost their defense mechanism by stimulating plant hormones in the production of specific proteins that fight against the viruses. Finally, the study discusses how specialized plant compounds on conjugation when paired with suitable nanoparticles, in enhancing the plant’s ability to resist against viruses. Altogether, these findings suggest that nanotechnology offers a sustainable and versatile way to manage viral diseases in plants, by combining direct antiviral action, gene silencing, early detection, and enhanced plant defenses.