Interactions Between Nanoparticles and Tomato Plants: Influencing Host Physiology and the Tomato Leafminer’s Molecular Response
Inzamam Ul Haq,
Xiangyun Cai,
Habib Ali,
Muhammad Rehan Akhtar,
Muhammad Adeel Ghafar,
Moazam Hyder,
Youming Hou
Affiliations
Inzamam Ul Haq
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xiangyun Cai
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Habib Ali
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Punjab, Pakistan
Muhammad Rehan Akhtar
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Muhammad Adeel Ghafar
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Moazam Hyder
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Youming Hou
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Laboratory of Biopesticides and Chemical Biology, MOE, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Tomatoes are a crucial global crop, impacting economies and livelihoods worldwide. However, pests like the tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) significantly reduce their yield potential. Nanoparticles come as a solution to this context, promising innovative strategies for the protection of plants from pest infestation and management. Nanoparticles have shown great potential to improve tomato plant resistance against pests and diseases because of their unique properties. They enhance plant physiological processes like photosynthesis and nutrient uptake while activating defense-related molecular pathways. Nanoparticles also directly impact the life cycle and behavioral patterns of pests such as the tomato leafminer, reducing their destructive nature. The dual benefits of nanoparticles for enhancing plants’ health and managing pests effectively provide a two-way innovative approach in agriculture. Gains made with such technology not only include increasing crop productivity and reducing crop losses but also reducing the heavy dependence on chemical pesticides, many of which have been attributed to environmental hazards. The current study illustrates the broader implications of nanoparticle use in agriculture, which is a sustainable pathway to increase crop resilience and productivity while reducing the impact of pests. Such novel approaches underline the need for continued interdisciplinary research to exploit the potential of nanotechnology in sustainable agricultural practices fully.
