Myconanoparticles: a sustainable strategy for agricultural applications and phytopathogen management

Nanotechnology presents a sustainable paradigm for modern agriculture, utilizing nanoscale materials to combat plant diseases, enhance crop growth, and minimize environmental impact. Among the various synthesis methods, fungi-based nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention due to their cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and versatility compared to conventional physicochemical approaches. Fungi possess unique metabolic pathways that facilitate the biosynthesis of NPs with distinct physicochemical properties, making them highly applicable to agriculture. These fungi-derived NPs exhibit strong and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against major phytopathogens, including Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This review comprehensively details the biological mechanisms and agricultural applications of these NPs. Furthermore, it explores the integration of machine learning (ML) to advance the field, demonstrating how ML models optimize synthesis parameters, predict NP stability, and enhance antimicrobial efficacy, thereby paving the way for scalable and standardized production. An advanced bibliometric analysis (2000–2024) underscores the rapid expansion of this research domain, with India emerging as a leading contributor, reflecting a global shift toward sustainable nanotechnology for plant disease management. By synthesizing insights from fungal nanobiotechnology, AI-driven optimization, and global research trends, this review provides a forward-looking perspective on developing and implementing advanced, eco-friendly strategies for sustainable agriculture.