Search Results (296)

While individual Si-nutrient interactions have been reviewed separately, a comparative analysis of multiple Si-element interactions remains lacking. This review compares current knowledge on co-application of Si with selenium (Se), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), focusing on stress tolerance, nutrient homeostasis, physiological responses, secondary metabolism and agronomic relevance. The evidence indicates that combining Si with these elements helps maintain reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, strengthen antioxidant defenses, stabilize photosynthetic function and improve nutrient uptake, translocation and use efficiency. Responses depend on plant species, nutrient form, application strategy and environmental conditions; at the metabolic level, Si-based combinations affect the synthesis of phenolic compounds, amino acids and sulphur-containing metabolites. Si-Se and Si-Fe proved most effective under heavy-metal stress, through regulation of metal transport, detoxification and sequestration, and Si-S and Si-Zn under drought, salinity and nutrient-deficient conditions, by enhancing osmotic adjustment, nutrient-use efficiency, ionic homeostasis and photosynthetic performance. Agronomically, these interactions can increase crop productivity, nutritional value and biofortification potential, and mitigate toxic-element accumulation in edible parts. Knowledge gaps remain regarding molecular regulation, variability among species and environments, and the long-term effectiveness of nanoparticle formulations. Since most evidence comes from hydroponic, pot and greenhouse studies, standardized field experiments are needed to assess agronomic relevance. Full article

P4-ATPases maintain transbilayer lipid asymmetry, yet their functional roles in legume crops remain poorly understood. In the present study, GmALA1 a plasma membrane-localized P4-ATPase in soybean, was identified and characterized. Its physical interaction with the β-subunit GmALIS2 at the plasma membrane via biomolecular fluorescence complementation was confirmed. Heterologous expression in the P4-ATPase-deficient yeast strain ZHY709 demonstrated that GmALA1 fully complemented the cold-sensitive growth phenotype, while co-expression with GmALIS2 only partially restored growth, suggesting GmALIS2 may modulate rather than simply stimulate GmALA1 activity, though the mechanism remains unresolved. GmALA1 suppresses triacylglycerol accumulation while elevating lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine content in both wild-type and mutant yeast. These findings were consistent with GmALA1-driven remodeling of membrane lipid flux. In yeast and transgenic soybean hairy roots, GmALA1 alone or in combination with GmALIS2 differentially altered the internalization and tissue-specific distribution of multiple phospholipid classes, with the pattern of NBD-lipid accumulation differing depending on GmALIS2 co-expression and cellular context. GmALA1 expression was also associated with altered yeast sensitivity to divalent cations including Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Also, cellular cation accumulation in the P4-ATPase-deficient background was enhanced. However, whether this reflects a direct interaction between GmALA1 and cation homeostasis machinery remains to be established. These findings establish GmALA1 as a functionally active phospholipid flippase that coordinates transmembrane lipid redistribution in concert with GmALIS2. These findings advance our understanding of P4-ATPase biology in soybean and legume crops. Full article

Background: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children is characterized by urinary protein loss and potential disruptions in trace element homeostasis. The dynamic changes in zinc, copper, and magnesium levels in relation to disease activity remain incompletely defined. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum zinc, copper, and magnesium and urinary copper and magnesium alterations in homeostasis in pediatric nephrotic syndrome and to examine their associations with disease stage, proteinuria, disease duration, renal function, and corticosteroid response. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cohort study involving 108 participants, including 74 pediatric patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and 34 healthy controls, comprising 164 clinical and biological assessments. Serum and urinary concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Mg were analyzed, alongside clearance parameters and the fractional excretion of magnesium. Statistical analysis included non-parametric tests, Spearman correlations, ROC analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Serum zinc levels were significantly lower during active disease phases and normalized during remission (p < 0.001); however, these differences in serum zinc concentration with stages of the NS disappeared after adjustment for serum protein levels (p = 0.424), suggesting a transport deficit secondary to hypoproteinemia. Although serum zinc concentrations were also significantly reduced in patients with concomitant infection, adjustment for serum protein levels attenuated this association, and the zinc-to-protein ratio did not differ significantly according to infection status (p = 0.08). Urinary copper levels and clearance were elevated during active disease and positively correlated with proteinuria (rho = 0.35–0.38; p < 0.001); the Cu/Zn ratio varied significantly across disease stages (p < 0.001) and was associated with both disease activity and a tendency toward corticosteroid resistance. Magnesium demonstrated a pattern of tubular conservation during active phases, with elevated fractional excretion values during remission (p < 0.001) and inverse correlations with proteinuria. Disease duration, but not relapse burden, was positively correlated with serum zinc and fractional magnesium excretion and inversely correlated with serum magnesium. In the multivariable analysis, serum proteins emerged as the sole independent predictor of disease activity, while age and the Cu/Zn ratio were associated with corticosteroid resistance. Conclusions: Pediatric nephrotic syndrome induces significant alterations in zinc, copper, and magnesium homeostasis, dependent on glomerular permeability and plasma protein status. Zinc changes with stages of NS likely reflect a secondary transport defect. In contrast, zinc changes with infection likely occurred because of a shift of zinc to the intracellular compartment. Urinary copper serves as a marker of glomerular permeability and magnesium highlights tubular adaptation. The Cu/Zn ratio and magnesium handling parameters may prove clinically useful in monitoring disease activity and treatment response. Full article

Redox homeostasis is driven by the ratio of the concentrations of cellular redox couples. The aim of this study was to reduce 2GSH/GSSG turnover in an ex vivo ileum by the irreversible inhibition of glutathione reductase (GR) activity (by BCNU) and evaluate its effects on contractility, antioxidant enzyme activity, and thiol levels. Increasing concentrations of BCNU as well as a single EC50 BCNU dose significantly reduced both contraction amplitude and GR activity. The addition of cumulative doses of both GSH and GSSG after EC50 BCNU caused further dose-dependent amplitude reduction, but turned GR activity to control levels and reduced CuZn-superoxide dismutase activity; cumulative doses of GSH also decreased catalase activity. Both GSH and GSSG cumulative doses decreased the contractility of non-treated control ileum in a dose-dependent manner, while GSH also increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. The correlation analysis showed a negative relationship between contractility and non-protein thiols, and positive correlations between catalase and GPx activities in BCNU treated ileum, as well as between GPx and non-protein thiols in solvent controls. The results present a framework for how glutathione turnover and ileum contractility are linked. Full article

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth, serving as a cofactor in chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic electron transport, and redox reactions. Both Fe deficiency and excess disrupt mineral nutrient homeostasis, but the ionomic and transcriptomic mechanisms underlying genotype-specific responses in potato remain elusive. We profiled the ionome and transcriptome of two potato genotypes, 05P and CI5, grown under Fe-deficient, Fe-sufficient and Fe-excess conditions represented by 1, 40.4 and 120 mg L⁻¹ FeNaEDTA, respectively. Ionomic analysis detected significant alterations in Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, Mg, and Cu concentrations across roots, stems, and leaves, with the direction and magnitude of change varying by organ and genotype. Under Fe deficiency, CI5 showed steeper declines in root and stem Fe than 05P, while 05P retained higher leaf Fe, reflecting genotype-dependent patterns of shoot Fe distribution. Fe excess caused Fe accumulation in both genotypes, but coincided with Mn depletion in shoots, raising Fe/Mn ratios, consistent with potential antagonistic Fe–Mn interactions at the transport level. This pattern is consistent with potential antagonistic Fe–Mn interactions, although alternative mechanisms such as Mn uptake inhibition or dilution effects cannot be ruled out without direct experimental evidence. Transcriptome analysis showed organ-biased responses: Fe deficiency upregulated more genes in stems, whereas Fe excess triggered stronger transcriptional shifts in roots. No KEGG pathways remained significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction, suggesting that genotype-dependent Fe-responsive divergence was not concentrated in a limited number of canonical KEGG pathways under the present analytical framework. Joint analysis of ionomic and transcriptomic data highlighted ferric-chelate reductase oxidase (FRO) and zinc-regulated transporter/iron-regulated transporter-like protein (IRT/ZIP) family members as genes associated with Fe reduction, divalent metal uptake, and Fe–Mn balance based on differential expression and orthology with functionally characterized Arabidopsis homologs. Comparative genomics showed that FRO and ZIP families have expanded in potato, with conserved domain architectures but divergent gene structures and promoter architectures, consistent with potential functional diversification related to metal transport. In conclusion, under Fe deficiency, genotype-dependent transcriptional divergence was most pronounced in stems, whereas under Fe excess it was more evident in roots, jointly maintaining systemic Fe–Mn homeostasis in potato. Full article

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a pleiotropic soluble factor that modulates cellular functions through both decoy and non-decoy mechanisms. DcR3 has been reported to exert anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in humans, particularly in cancers and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the role of DcR3 in TLR4-mediated innate immune responses in macrophages. Because the DcR3 gene is absent in the mouse genome, we generated myeloid-specific DcR3 knock-in mice and isolated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) for functional analyses. Our results showed that DcR3 did not significantly affect LPS-induced expression of COX-2, iNOS, NLRP3, or pro-IL-1β. Aggresome-like induced structures (ALIS), which consist of aggregates of ubiquitinated proteins, are stress-induced cytoplasmic compartments implicated in MHC class I antigen presentation. We found that DcR3 suppressed LPS-induced ALIS formation by attenuating cellular reactive oxygen species production and p38 MAPK activation. In addition to LPS stimulation, DcR3 also reduced the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins induced by HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP, lysosomal inhibitor bafilomycin A1, and proteasomal inhibitor MG132. Consistent with a role for autophagy in ALIS regulation, rapamycin reduced LPS-induced ALIS formation, whereas bafilomycin A1 induced comparable LC3-II accumulation in both wild-type and DcR3-expressing macrophages. Furthermore, DcR3 expression did not significantly alter LPS-induced p62 or HO-1 expression. Collectively, although DcR3 does not markedly influence LPS-induced inflammatory responses in BMDMs, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for DcR3 in suppressing ALIS formation and the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in macrophages, thereby suggesting a novel function for DcR3 in maintaining intracellular protein homeostasis under stress conditions. Full article

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. Following exogenous substance regulation, its sprouts can achieve efficient flavonoid enrichment. This study investigates the regulatory effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the physiological metabolism, oxidative stress response, and flavonoid biosynthesis of finger millet sprouts subjected to 5 mM zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) stress. Compared to treatment solely with ZnSO₄, the application of both 50 μM salicylic acid (SA) and 1 mM gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) markedly enhanced flavonoid biosynthesis, with respective yields of 8.53 μg/sprout and 8.85 μg/sprout observed by 6 days post-germination. Concurrently, SA and GABA attenuated ZnSO₄-induced oxidative damage. During days 4 and 6 post-germination, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels in sprouts were significantly reduced, with levels at 6 days showing a particularly notable decrease. Moreover, the catalytic activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly upregulated. Further analysis revealed that both treatments significantly activated the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. The activities of key rate-limiting enzymes, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, along with the expression levels of their corresponding genes, were markedly upregulated. Concurrently, the expression of genes and transcription factors, specifically myeloblastosis and NAC transcription factors, involved in regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis also increased. These findings suggest that exogenous SA, GABA, and ZnSO₄ cotreatment can effectively enhance the accumulation of flavonoids and the nutritional quality of finger millet sprouts by bolstering antioxidant capacity and modulating the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. This investigation establishes a theoretical framework for the production of superior, bioactive finger millet sprout ingredients. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is largely driven by severe oxidative stress and calcium dyshomeostasis. We examined the targeted antioxidant and therapeutic effects of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) on contractile dynamics, oxidative damage, calcium turnover, and apoptosis/fibrosis in aged female rats with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Thirty-two aged female Wistar rats were divided into Control, Control + ZnSO₄, Diabetes (DM), and DM + ZnSO₄ groups. DM was induced via high-fat diet and 30 mg/kg streptozotocin. After a 4-week complication period, treatment groups received 10 mg/kg/day ZnSO₄ (i.p.) for 6 weeks. Left ventricular papillary muscle contraction, oxidative/antioxidant markers (MDA/GSH), and gene expressions (SIRT1, GLUT4, SERCA2a, RyR2, Cav1.2, PLN) were evaluated. Myocardial architecture, fibrosis, and apoptosis were analyzed immunohistochemically. In DM rats, contractile force (CF) and velocities (±dF/dtmax) significantly declined. Results: Concurrently, SIRT1, GLUT4, SERCA2a, RyR2, Cav1.2, and antioxidant GSH decreased, while oxidative lipid damage (MDA), PLN, Caspase-3 activity, Collagen I, and fibrosis increased (p < 0.001). ZnSO₄ treatment in diabetic rats acted as a potent antioxidant modulator; it restored redox balance, activated the SIRT1/GLUT4 pathway, protected calcium-handling proteins from oxidative degradation, and significantly improved contractile dynamics. It also preserved myocardial architecture by reducing apoptosis and fibrosis. In healthy rats, ZnSO₄ caused mild stress and early fibrosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, while inducing mild stress in healthy myocardium, zinc supplementation provides robust antioxidant protection in diabetic hearts. It activates SIRT1, suppresses oxidative damage, maintains calcium homeostasis, and restores contractile dynamics, demonstrating strong antioxidant therapeutic potential against DCM. Full article

Soil salinity severely restricts castor (Ricinus communis L.) seed germination, yet the molecular basis of this trait remains poorly understood. Here, we identified and functionally characterized RcnsLTPC, a nonspecific lipid transfer protein gene strongly induced by salt stress, which encodes a plasma membrane-localized nsLTP1 protein. Promoter analyses indicated that RcnsLTPC is responsive to stress-, hormone-, and light-related signals, supporting its potential role in environmental adaptation. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and overexpression in Nicotiana tabacum consistently demonstrated that RcnsLTPC acts as a positive regulator of salt tolerance, improving germination, root development, biomass accumulation, antioxidant capacity, and ion homeostasis under NaCl stress. Notably, ZnO-NPs priming further amplified the protective effects of RcnsLTPC, suggesting a synergistic interaction between nanopriming and gene-mediated stress adaptation. Collectively, these findings establish RcnsLTPC as a key regulator of salt tolerance in castor and provide a conceptual basis for combining nanotechnology with genetic enhancement to improve crop performance on saline soils. Full article

Silicon (Si) is an essential trace element involved in multiple physiological processes of animals. This study aimed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of dietary silica (SiO₂) supplementation on production performance and key blood parameters in laying hens. A total of 360 hens were randomly assigned to five groups (6 replicates/group, 12 hens/replicate) and fed basal diets supplemented with 0% (control), 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, or 0.8% SiO₂ for 8 weeks. Laying performance, egg quality, serum immune indices, reproductive hormone levels, antioxidant status, and serum trace element concentrations were determined. The results showed that dietary SiO₂ supplementation significantly affected egg production rate (p < 0.05), with the 0.2% group achieving the highest rate compared to the control. For egg quality, yolk weight and yolk thickness were significantly reduced only in the 0.8% group (p < 0.05), while other parameters were unaffected (p > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8% silica significantly increased serum levels of IL-2 and IL-4 (p < 0.05), whereas the 0.8% supplementation decreased IL-1 levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, serum IgA and IgG levels were elevated in the 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8% silica-supplemented groups (p < 0.05), and serum IgM levels were higher in the 0.4% and 0.8% groups (p < 0.05). Regarding reproductive hormones, dietary SiO₂ significantly increased serum concentrations of β-endorphin, estradiol, growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone (p < 0.05), with follicle-stimulating hormone elevated in the 0.4% and 0.8% groups (p < 0.05). Dietary silica supplementation did not affect serum activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, or T-AOC. Serum POD activity decreased gradually and was significantly lower in the 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8% groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SiO₂ supplementation significantly altered serum Cu and Zn levels (p < 0.05), with the 0.8% group having the highest Ca concentration and the 0.1–0.8% groups showing increased Zn levels compared to the control; no effects on Fe and Mn were observed (p > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.2–0.4% SiO₂ effectively improves egg production rate, along with enhancing immune function, modulating reproductive hormone secretion, and regulating serum Cu/Zn homeostasis in late-phase laying hens. Full article

Due to the increased anthropogenic load, crops are polluted with heavy metals, including nickel (Ni). This is a serious environmental problem, as Ni penetrates barrier-free into cereal crops and accumulates in the grains used by humans and animals for food. Wheat is one of the main staple crops, cultivated in many countries. This study suggested that plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) with varying enzymatic activities could help wheat plants to cope with Ni stress by reducing Ni toxicity and regulating the metal’s homeostasis. PGPB Bacillus megaterium AFI1 has a strong phosphate-solubilizing activity and produces siderophores, while Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2 has nitrogen-fixing and silicate-solubilizing activities. Both strains produce indole and polysaccharides and have 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. PGPB under Ni exposure (100 mg/kg of soil) significantly increased grain yield (by 34–42%) and decreased (by 20–33%) Ni content in wheat grains. PGPB also decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ levels in wheat plants under Ni stress. The contents of iron (Fe), boron (B), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) decreased significantly and potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) oppositely increased significantly in all plant organs under Ni exposure. The inoculation with AFI1 mainly increased P and Fe, and the inoculation with AFI2 increased N and silica (Si) in wheat grains under Ni stress. In our experiments, under nickel exposure PGPB Bacillus megaterium AFI1 and Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2 increased antioxidant protection of plants by decreasing the level of stress ethylene and regulating the homeostasis of nutrients in wheat plants. These PGPB can be considered as promising candidates for the development of biologicals to be used for growing plants in soils with low levels of nickel contamination. Full article

The pancreas is an organ with two functions: endocrine and exocrine. The proper functioning of the pancreas depends on many factors. One of these is trace elements—precise control of trace element homeostasis is important for both the endocrine and exocrine parts. This review provides a comprehensive summary of current knowledge regarding the role of trace elements: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se) in pancreatic physiology and their influence on the pathogenesis of key diseases of this organ, such as diabetes (DM), acute (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), and pancreatic cancer (PC). Trace elements, including Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mn, play a fundamental role in maintaining endocrine and exocrine homeostasis, participating in insulin synthesis, stabilizing digestive enzymes, and the functioning of antioxidant systems. It has been demonstrated that disturbances in their concentrations lead to the activation of pathological molecular pathways, including oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and beta-cell apoptosis. In the context of diabetes, excess Fe promotes ferroptosis, whilst exposure to heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Hg induces insulin resistance and pancreatic islet dysfunction. In the course of pancreatitis, elements such as Zn and Se exhibit protective potential by stabilizing tissue barriers, whereas toxic metals impair ion transport, exacerbating fibrotic processes. Furthermore, analysis of available data indicates a significant association between heavy metal accumulation and pancreatic carcinogenesis, driven by DNA damage and oncogene modulation. Understanding pancreatic metallomics opens new prospects for early diagnosis, environmental prevention, and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies that restore the body’s micronutrient balance. Full article

Copper is an indispensable trace element for maintaining metabolic homeostasis; however, the dysregulation and subsequent accumulation of Cu²⁺ are critically linked to neurodegenerative pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Consequently, the development of robust analytical tools for Cu²⁺ monitoring is of paramount importance. Here, we report a 2,2′-dipicolylamine porphyrin (DPAP)-based fluorescent sensor designed for the precise detection of metal cations. Photophysical investigations reveal that DPAP operates via a rapid turn-off fluorescence mechanism, achieving high-performance sensing in the parts-per-million range. Notably, the probe demonstrates exceptional sensitivity with detection limits of 26.3 nM for Cu²⁺ and 34.8 nM for Ni²⁺. Interference studies demonstrated the selectivity of DPAP for Cu²⁺ over a diverse range of competing metal ions such as Na⁺, Ag⁺, Ni²⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺. These results indicate that DPAP is a sensitive and selective probe suitable for copper ion detection. Full article

Zinc oxide promotes poultry growth, but it tends to agglomerate. This necessitates high doses and leads to environmental contamination from unabsorbed, excreted zinc. Undigested zinc is excreted and can enter the food chain, increasing the probability of zinc residues in edible poultry tissues (muscle, liver, and eggs) and raising concerns for consumer safety. MOF-supported single-atom zinc catalysts (SAC) resolve agglomeration by atomic anchoring, enhancing bioavailability. High-temperature/high-pressure fixation of Zn²⁺ surfaces was confirmed by XRD, while FESEM revealed the corresponding surface morphology, collectively verifying SAC formation. SAC exhibited potent antimicrobial efficacy against key pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC of 3.125 mg/mL, MBC of 25 mg/mL). Co-culture experiments further demonstrated that the antibacterial performance of SAC remained stable over a temperature range of 20–80 °C and a pH range of 2–8, thus exhibiting excellent thermal stability and gastrointestinal tolerance. In 7-day-old chicks, SAC alleviated S. typhimurium-induced inflammation, reduced bacterial adherence, upregulated claudin-1, preserved gut homeostasis, ameliorated tissue lesions, and increased the abundance of Lactobacillus in the cecum, demonstrating promising potential for poultry infection control. Full article

Plants in agricultural systems rarely face single stressors; instead, they encounter concurrent biotic (pathogen, pests) and abiotic (drought, salinity, heavy metals) stresses that causes severely reduce crop yields and endanger food security. The traditional methods of breeding, genetic engineering, and agrochemicals tend to target individual stresses and still do not suffice in the complex field conditions. Compared to these approaches, nanotechnology offers distinct advantages: nanoparticles (NPs) can be applied as foliar sprays or seed treatments without lengthy breeding cycles or regulatory hurdles associated with genetically modified organisms. However, nanotechnology is not inherently “better” but rather complementary to crop engineering; each approach has specific strengths. Breeding and genetic engineering provide heritable, long-term solutions, while nanotechnology offers immediate, season-specific, and reversible interventions. Cross-tolerance, the phenomenon whereby exposure to one stress enhances tolerance to another, offers a promising alternative. This review critically examines how NPs act as stress-priming agents that induce cross-tolerance by activating overlapping defense networks, including antioxidant systems (SOD, CAT, APX), phytohormonal crosstalk (ABA, SA, JA), osmolyte homeostasis, and stress-responsive gene expression. We synthesize current evidence on NP uptake, translocation, and cellular interactions, and evaluate their dual role in directly suppressing pathogens while simultaneously enhancing plant immune responses and physiological resilience. However, efficacy is highly dose-dependent: low, subtoxic doses prime defense through hermetic ROS signaling, whereas supraoptimal doses cause phytotoxicity. The current challenges in nano-mediated stress alleviation include: (i) a persistent laboratory-to-field translation gap, with field outcomes averaging only 60–70% of greenhouse efficacy; (ii) dose-dependent phytotoxicity; (iii) poor reproducibility across studies; (iv) scalability and formulation stability issues; and (v) insufficient understanding of long-term environmental fate, including soil accumulation, non-target organism effects, and food chain safety. Future research should consider field-validated formulations (e.g., SiNPs, ZnONPs, Fe₃O₄NPs) across major staple crops); integrating nanotechnology with precision agriculture through nanosensors, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence for site-specific, dose-optimized applications;developing smart, biodegradable nanoparticles with stimuli-responsive release; and establishing harmonized regulatory frameworks for nano-agrochemical approval. When deployed responsibly, nanoparticle-induced cross-tolerance represents a sustainable approach to improve crop resistance against multifactorial stress, with significant implications for climate-resilient agriculture and global food security. Full article