Chitosan Based Nanoformulation for Sustainable Agriculture with Special Reference to Abiotic Stress: A Review

Chitosan is a naturally occurring biological macromolecule and second most abundant polysaccharide next to cellulose, derived from deacetylation of chitin. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxic and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, it has become an important field of drug delivery system study. With the advancement in nanotechnology, chitosan based nanoformulations have sought considerable attention in agricultural sciences. The first part of this review focuses on the overview of chitosan and its nanoparticles, its different mode of synthesis and challenges, and controlled release mechanism of encapsulated molecules. The subsequent section focuses on the uptake and translocation of chitosan based nanoformulation including plant growth, nutrition and special focus on abiotic stress mitigation strategies. We conclude that chitosan based nanoformulation holds great promises in encapsulating bioactive molecules for controlled release thus reduces environmental hazard, and improves plant growth, yield and subsequently mitigates various biotic and abiotic stresses. Chitosan based nanoformulations have good controlled release behaviour and long stability of bioactive compounds encapsulated inside chitosan nanoparticle, and have prosperous future for improving agricultural productivity in the era of climate change.