Summary
This review examines nanoparticles and nanomaterials as plant biostimulants, proposing that their efficacy depends on high-density surface charges capable of electrostatic interactions with plant cell membranes and walls. The authors argue that the cellular response—ranging from biostimulation to cytotoxicity—is concentration-, size-, and corona-composition-dependent, with surface modifications and environmental exposure altering particle behaviour in plant tissues.
UK applicability
The mechanistic insights are potentially relevant to UK agricultural research and technology development, though the review does not address field trials, regulatory frameworks, or agronomic applicability under temperate conditions. Practical implementation in UK farming systems would require safety assessment and efficacy validation under local soil and climate conditions.
Key measures
Plant growth promotion; surface charge density interactions; transmembrane electrical potential modification; concentration and size-dependent effects on cellular response
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews the mechanisms by which nanoparticles and nanomaterials promote plant growth through electrostatic interactions with cell membranes and walls. It examines how concentration, size, and surface corona characteristics determine whether these interactions result in biostimulation or cellular damage.
Topic tags
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