Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the field of agriculture is experiencing transformative change driven by nano-enabled innovations. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for sustainable agricultural practices under the changing climate becomes ever more critical to ensuring food security, improving livelihoods, and maintaining environmental health. The integration of nanotechnology in agriculture offers promising solutions to these challenges, enhancing areas such as precision farming, pest control, antimicrobials, water management, soil health, drought-tolerant crops, crop protection, and sustainable energy usage.

This Topic seeks to explore the diverse applications of nanomaterials, nanoparticles, and nanodevices in modern agriculture. From improving crop yields and reducing chemical dependency to enabling smarter irrigation systems and enhancing post-harvest processing and extending shelf life, nano-innovations are at the forefront of creating more sustainable agricultural practices. Moreover, these technologies support the energy-efficient use of resources and mitigate environmental pollution, aligning with the global push toward carbon-neutral development.

We invite researchers, scientists, and academics to submit original research papers, reviews, or recent progress in the application of nano-enabled technologies for agriculture. Submissions will contribute to advancing knowledge on how these innovations can be scaled to achieve the SDGs, with a focus on eco-friendly and energy-efficient solutions. Participating journals include Applied Nano, Nanomaterials, Plants, Sustainability, and Agriculture.

Prof. Dr. Heyou Han
Prof. Dr. João Rodrigues
Dr. Mohamed F. Foda
Dr. Lok. R. Pokhrel
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	6.3	2011	18.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Applied Nano applnano	-	4.6	2020	15.7 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	14 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Plants plants	4.1	7.6	2012	16.5 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	17.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Applied Nano Nanomaterials Plants Sustainability Agriculture

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19 pages, 1867 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Prophylactic Protection Against Salmonella typhimurium Infection by Single-Atom Zinc Catalysts

by Ling Teng, Hesheng Pan, Zhongwei Chen, Junfeng Sun, Yanwen Zhang, Changting Li, Zhe Pei, Chunxia Ma, Yu Gong, Huili Bai, Leping Wang, Yan Huang, Jing Wang, Chao Zhao, Xian Li, Yangyan Yin, Yingyi Wei and Hao Peng

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(9), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16090562 - 2 May 2026

Viewed by 1217

Abstract

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 [...] Read more.

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

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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20 pages, 4657 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Enhance Vigor of Aged Naked Oat Seeds: Transcriptomic Insights into Antioxidant and Metabolic Reprogramming

by Futian Chen, Yuan Ma, Kuiju Niu, Fangyuan Zhao, Yajiao Zhao, Ruirui Yao, Tao Shao and Huan Liu

Agriculture 2026, 16(8), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16080842 - 10 Apr 2026

Viewed by 493

Abstract

Naked oat (Avena nuda L.) is an important dual-purpose crop for grain and forage in cold regions; however, its high fatty acid content renders seeds prone to deterioration during storage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles [...] Read more.

Naked oat (Avena nuda L.) is an important dual-purpose crop for grain and forage in cold regions; however, its high fatty acid content renders seeds prone to deterioration during storage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on artificially aged naked oat seeds and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Non-aged seeds (Naged) were subjected to artificial aging at 45 °C and 100% relative humidity for 24 h (Aged), followed by priming with 30 mg L⁻¹ ZnO NPs for 6 h (Daged). Antioxidant enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically, and transcriptome sequencing was performed on an Illumina platform to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways. We found that ZnO NPs increased catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 3–4-fold, restored germination rate from 75% to 98%, and enhanced seed vigor index. A total of 21,403 DEGs were detected, with 15,841 stably expressed in response to nano-priming. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst rapidly induced up-regulation of AP2/EREBP transcription factor family members, which subsequently activated antioxidant enzyme genes to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. Metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated that the phenylpropanoid pathway was reprogrammed, characterized by down-regulated lignin biosynthesis and up-regulated flavonoid production, thereby enhancing ROS scavenging capacity. Additionally, the pentose phosphate pathway was activated to provide additional NADPH for antioxidant defense, and up-regulated ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) facilitated starch accumulation. Notably, the 40S ribosomal protein S13 exhibited the highest connectivity in protein–protein interaction networks, was up-regulated 2.1-fold, and was enriched in post-translational modification processes. These findings suggest that nano-priming with ZnO NPs represents a promising biotechnological strategy for enhancing seed vigor and storability in naked oat, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and the seed industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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24 pages, 6431 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Commercial Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Mechanistic Investigation into the Bacterial Leaf Blight Pathogen of Rice and Evaluation of Their Biocompatibility

by Thanee Jaiyan, Paweena Rangsrisak, Kanchit Rahaeng, Duagkamol Maensiri and Wuttipong Mahakham

Appl. Nano 2025, 6(4), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/applnano6040026 - 13 Nov 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), a destructive disease of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), continues to limit rice productivity worldwide. Although biologically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been extensively investigated, knowledge regarding the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility [...] Read more.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), a destructive disease of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), continues to limit rice productivity worldwide. Although biologically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been extensively investigated, knowledge regarding the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of commercially available ZnO NPs is still limited. In this study, commercial ZnO NPs were systematically characterized and evaluated for their antibacterial mechanisms and biocompatibility in mammalian cells. FE-SEM and TEM analyses revealed irregular polyhedral, hexagonal, and short rod-like morphologies with an average particle size of ~33 nm, consistent with crystallite sizes estimated by XRD. The nanoparticles exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity against Xoo, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 µg/mL and a clear dose-dependent response. Mechanistic assays confirmed multifaceted bactericidal actions involving membrane disruption, ROS generation, Zn²⁺ release, and ultrastructural damage. Biocompatibility testing in human dermal fibroblasts showed enhanced proliferation at 8–32 µg/mL, no cytotoxicity up to 256 µg/mL, and reduced viability only at ≥512 µg/mL. These findings represent the first mechanistic evaluation of commercial ZnO NPs against Xoo, together with cytotoxicity assessment in mammalian cells, highlighting their structural distinctness and dual functionality that combine potent antibacterial activity with minimal mammalian cytotoxicity. Overall, the results underscore their potential as safe nanobiocontrol agents for sustainable rice disease management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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20 pages, 1756 KB  

Open AccessReview

Food Safety Promotion via Nanotechnology: An Argumentative Review on Nano-Sanitizers

by Lok R. Pokhrel, Caroline A. Knowles and Pradnya T. Akula

Appl. Nano 2025, 6(4), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/applnano6040021 - 1 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1943

Abstract

Nano-sanitizers, which exploit the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, are being increasingly investigated as innovative tools to promote food safety. In this argumentative review, we compare and contrast nano-sanitizers with conventional sanitation methods by examining their underlying antimicrobial mechanisms, multifaceted benefits, inherent challenges, [...] Read more.

Nano-sanitizers, which exploit the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, are being increasingly investigated as innovative tools to promote food safety. In this argumentative review, we compare and contrast nano-sanitizers with conventional sanitation methods by examining their underlying antimicrobial mechanisms, multifaceted benefits, inherent challenges, and wide-ranging public health implications. We evaluate regulatory conundrums and consumer perspectives alongside future outlooks for integration with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Through selective synthesis of the published literature, our argumentative discussion demonstrates that nano-sanitizers not only promise superior performance in pathogen inactivation but could also contribute to overall food system sustainability, provided safety and regulatory concerns are adequately addressed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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30 pages, 7589 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Plant-Based ZnO Nanoparticles for Green Nanobiocontrol of a Highly Virulent Bacterial Leaf Blight Pathogen: Mechanistic Insights and Biocompatibility Evaluation

by Preeda Chanthapong, Duangkamol Maensiri, Paweena Rangsrisak, Thanee Jaiyan, Kanchit Rahaeng, Atcha Oraintara, Kunthaya Ratchaphonsaenwong, Jirawat Sanitchon, Piyada Theerakulpisut and Wuttipong Mahakham

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(13), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15131011 - 30 Jun 2025

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5081

Abstract

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), poses a serious threat to rice cultivation. This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of the medicinal plant Centella asiatica [...] Read more.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), poses a serious threat to rice cultivation. This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of the medicinal plant Centella asiatica (L.) Urban and evaluates their potential as dual-function nanopesticides. The synthesized CA-ZnO NPs exhibited high crystallinity, a hexagonal to quasi-spherical morphology, and nanoscale dimensions (~22.5 nm), as confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and SAED analyses. These nanoparticles demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against a highly virulent, field-derived Thai Xoo strain, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 µg/mL. Mechanistic investigations revealed substantial membrane disruption, intracellular nanoparticle penetration, and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in treated cells. Cytotoxicity testing using human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) revealed excellent biocompatibility, with no statistically significant reduction in cell viability at concentrations up to 500 µg/mL. In contrast, viability markedly declined at 1000 µg/mL. These findings underscore the selective antibacterial efficacy and minimal mammalian cytotoxicity of CA-ZnO NPs. Overall, CA-ZnO NPs offer a promising green nanopesticide platform that integrates potent antibacterial activity with biocompatibility, supporting future applications in sustainable crop protection and biomedical nanotechnology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nano-Enabled Innovations in Agriculture)

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