Nanohybrid-enabled smart platforms for biostimulation and immunoengineering of plants

Abstract

Conventional agricultural practices have become increasingly impractical due to their high inefficiency and overuse, posing serious threats to ecosystem stability and health. Nanohybrids refer to a class of composite materials comprised of nanomaterials combined with diverse materials, including inorganic, polymeric, or biological materials, resulting in hybrid structures with unique functional features such as greater mechanical strength, catalytic activity, and biocompatibility, thus providing advanced frameworks with a vast variety of applications in the agriculture sector. Nanohybrids can augment the functional capabilities of plants, such as photosynthesis and stress tolerance, enabling crops to thrive under diverse climatic conditions. Additionally, nanohybrid-based agricultural practices can improve growth and productivity of crops by providing them with essential nutrients in a more controlled and precise manner. Importantly, nanohybrid-based systems can shield plants against biotic (pest and pathogen attacks) and abiotic (drought, salinity, temperature, and pH etc.) stressors by activating sophisticated, interconnected, and intricate antioxidative or genetic defense responses. Here, we provide a critical overview of nanohybrid-enabled strategies for improving agriculture practices and plant health under biotic and abiotic environmental challenges. We also highlight the transformative potential of nanohybrid-based smart agrochemicals for developing sustainable and eco-stable agricultural systems, thereby ensuring global food security.