Summary
This review, published in the journal Plants (Basel) in 2025, synthesises current research on the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in agricultural contexts, covering their reported roles in enhancing plant growth, mitigating abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, and suppressing plant pathogens. The authors likely evaluate the mechanistic pathways underpinning these effects alongside dose-dependent responses and potential risks of phytotoxicity. The paper contributes to an emerging body of literature exploring nanomaterials as novel agricultural inputs, whilst acknowledging that the evidence base is largely experimental and not yet translated into field-scale practice.
UK applicability
Findings are broadly applicable to UK horticulture and protected cropping research, though regulatory frameworks governing nanomaterial use in agriculture within the UK and EU are restrictive, and commercial application remains distant pending further safety and environmental impact assessment.
Key measures
Plant growth parameters (root/shoot length, biomass, germination rate); stress tolerance indicators; pathogen inhibition rates; phytotoxicity thresholds; nanoparticle concentration ranges
Outcomes reported
The review examines evidence on how silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) influence plant growth parameters, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and antimicrobial or antifungal efficacy against plant pathogens. It likely synthesises findings across multiple crop species and experimental conditions to assess both benefits and potential phytotoxic risks.
Topic tags
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