The role of fluorescent carbon dots in crops: Mechanism and applications
Baoyan Guo,
Guo Liu,
Haopeng Wei,
Jiemin Qiu,
Jianle Zhuang,
Xuejie Zhang,
Mingtao Zheng,
Wei Li,
Haoran Zhang,
Chaofan Hu,
Bingfu Lei,
Yingliang Liu
Affiliations
Baoyan Guo
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Guo Liu
College of Horticulture South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Haopeng Wei
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Jiemin Qiu
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Jianle Zhuang
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Xuejie Zhang
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Mingtao Zheng
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Wei Li
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Haoran Zhang
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Chaofan Hu
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Bingfu Lei
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Yingliang Liu
Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Optical Agriculture, College of Materials and Energy South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Abstract Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) have been widely studied in biosensing, imaging, information encryption, and optoelectronic devices due to excellent optical properties, such as photostability, tunable luminescence range, and resistance to photobleaching. In recent years, CDs have been explored for use in agriculture. Based on their light harvest and light conversion capacity, as well as their characteristics of easy synthesis and low toxicity, CDs show great potential in improving crop photosynthesis. In addition, CDs can also be used for smart and anticounterfeiting packing, food safety detection, and preservation of crops after harvest. In this study, the application of CDs with excellent optical properties in crops has been summarized, including preharvest processes (photosynthesis and plant imaging), and postharvest processes (crop preservation and food safety). Then the toxicity of CDs to crops is introduced. Finally, the present challenges and future prospects are discussed.
