Nanotechnology-driven strategies for abiotic stress alleviation in plants

In today’s climate change scenarios crops are exposed more frequently to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal toxicity and nutrient deficiency severely impact plant growth, yield, and overall agricultural productivity. Conventional mitigation strategies such as genetic engineering and chemical treatments have limitations in efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability to rapidly changing climatic conditions. Modern advancements in nanotechnology field offers a promising way for enhancing plant tolerance against stress through applying nanoparticle (NP)-mediated mechanisms. Nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical properties can improve nutrient absoption, alter stress-responsive signaling pathways, and enhance antioxidant defense mechanism to alleviate oxidative damage. A number of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles such as ZnO, TiO₂, CeO₂ and SiNPs play essential role for controlling ion homeostasis, scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enhancing water retention under water stress and salinity stress condition. Additionally, carbon-based and polymeric nanoparticles involves to reduce stress by modulating gene expression and improving plant metabolic efficiency. This study explores the latest trends and advancements in nanotechnology-driven stress alleviation, emphasizing the molecular mechanisms, potential applications, and environmental implications of nanoparticle use in agriculture sector. A comprehensive understanding of nanoparticle-plant interactions will facilitate the development of sustainable food production, nano-enabled agricultural practices to enhance global food security in the face of escalating environmental challenges.