Nanoparticle application and abiotic-stress tolerance in plants

Abstract Nanoparticle (NP) application is very effective and promising in alleviating different abiotic stresses. These stress conditions induce oxidative damage and ions by generating different reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytosolic accumulation of toxic ions. These ROS are highly toxic and disrupt numerous plant physiological processes. All abiotic stresses primarily reduce photosynthesis by degrading chlorophyll and damaging other ultrastructures of chloroplast. To counter these negative effects, NPs can alleviate these effects by increasing antioxidant defense system and osmoregulation. Nemours NPs mimic the role of antioxidants and help in maintaining redox potential under different abiotic stresses. Moreover, these NPs increase photosynthetic efficiency by improving chlorophyll contents, light absorption, Fv/Fm, and other traits. Future research is required to examine molecular mechanism underlying NPs induced growth improvement under different abiotic stresses. On the other hand, literature also showed that NPs also act as bad player, which cause NP toxicity. NPs can also reduce seed germination and seedling establishment, decrease chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis, and cause oxidative damage. This chapter is summarizing positive role of NPs in redox regulation, photosynthesis, and ionic homeostasis under different abiotic-stress conditions.