Revolutionizing Nematode Management – Nanomaterials as a Promising Approach for Managing Economically Important Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

Abstract

Mounting realization that the classical farming methods would not satisfy the desperate need for raising production has sparked wide interest in favourable alternatives. Increased restrictions and banning on classical chemical nematicides due to ecological and human health issues are additional concerns. As plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) can give rise to considerable damage and losses in produce of many economic crops worldwide annually, using nematocidal nanomaterials (NNM) to control them seems effective, safe, and inexpensive alternatives. This chapter reviews syntheses, formulation, and applications of NNM that could be optimized for sustainable and modern farming approaches. While their adequate syntheses can offer effective and cheap nematicides, their formulation may further decrease the used dosage, human exposure to them, and provide encapsulated nematicides with improved attributes; that is, elevated stability, permeability, and solubility with slow release and protection from premature degradation. Synergistic or additive operations of combining them with other agricultural inputs could boost their effective applications to suppress PPNs and increase crop yields. Merits and demerits of the NNM and their modes of action are presented. Successful implementation of nanomaterials to control serious PPN species is highlighted. Further studies regarding the behaviour of NNMs, their economic feasibility, and fate in the environment will assist to establish a regulatory framework for their sound commercialization.

Topics & Concepts