Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Nanotechnology has emerged with varied scopes in the field of plant pathology. In recent years, the science of plant pathology has witnessed major breakthroughs in plant defense and disease combating programs. The nanotubes, an important tool of nanotechnology which is a cylindrically shaped carbon molecules having a diameter of about one nanometer can be exploited to deliver proteins, nucleic acids and drugsto cells. This technique also helps to recognize and fight pathogens in agriculture crops. Although carbon nanotubes had toxic effects, because they induce programmed cell death in plant cells but do not show any adverse impact at the tissue level indicating that injecting cells with carbon nanotubes caused only limited injury. Thus, to design a Disease Combating Nanotechnology Model (DCNM) requires assessment of bioavailability and toxicity of carbon nanotubes and their impurities on the crops. The crops should also be tested for their cell viability, genetic material, gene expression, seed germination, seed growth and various other physiological, biochemical and genetic characteristics before applying the nanotechnology principles. The doses of nanotubes can act as a limiting factor in these programs. The use of magnetic nanoparticles through magnetic field gradients has been proved significant in selected plant tissues. The magnet helps these nanoparticles that are charged with different substances to get introduced within the plants and if necessary concentrated into localized areas modifying pathogenesis mechanism. The safer use of nanotechnology techniques to combat agriculture crop pathogens and evaluation of new tools for a successful plant disease management programs are reviewed.

Biography

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