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Agriculture
Special Issues
Harnessing Nanotechnology for Improved Crop Growth and Protection
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Harnessing Nanotechnology for Improved Crop Growth and Protection

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1730

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Soledad García-Morales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biotecnología Vegetal, SECIHTI-Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Camino Arenero 1227, Zapopan 45019, Mexico
Interests: green nanoparticle synthesis; selenium nanoparticles; biostimulant properties; antifungal activity; selenium biofortification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Graciela Dolores Ávila-Quezada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Ciencias Agrotecnológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31350, Mexico
Interests: nanoparticles for controlling plant pathogens; plant health; nanophytopathology; nanotechnological tools
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, agricultural crop production is under increasing pressure to meet the growing demand for plant foods, due to constant environmental changes that cause stress to plants, the need to preserve ecological balance, and the maintenance of sustainable production in agroecosystems. In this regard, nanotechnology offers a wide range of solutions that have been developed and optimized to improve the growth and resilience of cultivated plants. Nanomaterials show great potential in terms of addressing various challenges, including abiotic and biotic stress, due to their unique properties of size, shape, surface area, and reactivity.

This Special Issue focuses on the application of nanotechnology in agriculture, including in nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors, nanoencapsulation, and nanoliberation systems. We welcome articles on nanofertilizers with the potential to improve nutrient use efficiency, reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer application, provide specific nutrient supply, and biofortify crops. Nanopesticides offer more effective and safer alternatives to conventional pesticides, improving the specificity and reducing the toxicity of pest and disease control agents. Additionally, nanosensors contribute to precision agriculture by enabling the real-time monitoring of soil conditions, crop health, and environmental parameters. Finally, nanotransport systems that facilitate the controlled release of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, reduce their environmental impact and enhance their effectiveness. Studies on the potential toxicity and bioaccumulation of nanomaterials in the environment and the food chain are also welcome.

This Special Issue welcomes mini-reviews, reviews, and original articles that encompass all aspects of the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, exploring their use as nanofertilizers and biostimulants for plant growth, metabolism, and tolerance to abiotic stress, as well as in pesticides (fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, nematicides, and weedicides) for crop protection against biotic stress.

Dr. Soledad García-Morales
Dr. Graciela Dolores Ávila-Quezada
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • nanofertilizer
  • nano-biostimulants nanopesticides
  • nanocarriers
  • nano-encapsulation
  • nanodelivery systems
  • nanosensors
  • sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 12287 KB  
Article
Chitosan-dsRNA Nanoparticles Targeting SlChitinase5 Enhance Insecticide Efficacy Against Spodoptera litura
by Huixuan Shi, Yanru Chu, Ziqian Tong, Camilo Ayra-Pardo, Dandan Li, Yunchao Kan and Huili Qiao
Agriculture 2026, 16(10), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101030 - 8 May 2026
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Abstract
Spodoptera litura is a highly destructive agricultural pest with increasing reliance on chemical insecticides. We aimed to develop nanotechnology-enabled strategies that enhance insecticide efficacy against S. litura and reduce chemical inputs. To this end, SlChitinase5 was identified and characterized as a potential RNAi [...] Read more.
Spodoptera litura is a highly destructive agricultural pest with increasing reliance on chemical insecticides. We aimed to develop nanotechnology-enabled strategies that enhance insecticide efficacy against S. litura and reduce chemical inputs. To this end, SlChitinase5 was identified and characterized as a potential RNAi target. This gene contains conserved domains typical of lepidopteran chitinases and is highly expressed during key developmental stages, including larval molting and the prepupal phase. RNAi-mediated suppression of SlChitinase5 through larval injection of double-stranded RNA (dsSlChitinase5) significantly reduced body weight, increased mortality, and disrupted molting. When RNAi-treated larvae were exposed to sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate (EB) or an emamectin benzoate–tebufenozide mixture (EBT), larval mortality reached 96.7% on day 5. To evaluate an alternative formulation and exposure approach, dsSlChitinase5 was incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles (CS) and applied topically. This treatment induced SlChitinase5 knockdown and, in combination with sublethal EB or EBT, resulted in complete larval mortality within five days under the conditions tested. These findings validate SlChitinase5 as a molecular target and suggest that CS-dsSlChitinase5 nanocarriers have the potential to enhance insecticide performance, which may support integrated pest management and future efforts toward reduced-input crop protection strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Nanotechnology for Improved Crop Growth and Protection)
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31 pages, 2752 KB  
Article
Dose- and Application-Dependent Effects of Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles on Germination, Growth, and Antioxidant Response of Capsicum annuum L.
by Andrés de Jesús López-Gervacio, Iliana Barrera-Martínez, Joaquín Alejandro Qui-Zapata, Mayra Itzcalotzin Montero-Cortés, Graciela Dolores Ávila-Quezada and Soledad García-Morales
Agriculture 2026, 16(6), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16060707 - 22 Mar 2026
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized through green routes have emerged as promising nanobiostimulants in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to enhance plant growth and antioxidant defense. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant effect of SeNPs on Capsicum annuum at [...] Read more.
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized through green routes have emerged as promising nanobiostimulants in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to enhance plant growth and antioxidant defense. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant effect of SeNPs on Capsicum annuum at two stages of crop development to characterize the response to SeNP exposure and identify concentration-dependent effects and application methods. Physiological indicators, including growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and antioxidant activity, were evaluated. Different concentrations of SeNPs were tested during germination, and dosage and two types of application were compared during the vegetative phase in a hydroponic experiment. SeNPs at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 µM were applied to chili seeds for 20 days. The plants were exposed to SeNPs concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 80 µM, applied through the roots and leaves. Germination parameters were not significantly affected except for the seed vigor index, which increased at all concentrations, particularly at 20 µM. Low to moderate doses (1.25–20 µM) acted as biostimulants, enhancing plant height, root length, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigment content, and phenolic and flavonoid compound synthesis. Conversely, high doses (80 µM) induced phytotoxic effects, especially via root exposure, reflected by growth inhibition, and reduced chlorophyll content. Foliar application demonstrated a systemic biostimulant response, improving root growth and photosynthetic activity without toxicity symptoms. Antioxidant assays (DPPH and ABTS) revealed dose-dependent modulation of redox balance, suggesting adaptive responses to SeNP-induced oxidative conditions. These findings highlight the potential of SeNPs as biostimulants that improve physiological performance in chili plants, while emphasizing the importance of an optimal dosing and application method for sustainable nanotechnology-based crop management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harnessing Nanotechnology for Improved Crop Growth and Protection)
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