Mechanistic Aspect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Alleviating Abiotic Stress in Plants - A Sustainable Agriculture Approach

The global agricultural system has recently suffered from unfavourable climatic factors that impacts plant morphology, physiology, biochemistry, growth, and yield. One of the main barriers to agricultural production and food security is abiotic stress in plants. Therefore, in order to feed the population, the development of novel strategies is required to solve these issues and achieve sustainability. Undoubtedly, different types of nanoparticles are extensively used in the agriculture sector for the crop improvement. Keeping this in mind, this review focuses on the role of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in particular for combating different abiotic stresses. Though the majority of investigations, however, centred on the general effect of ZnO NPs on the plant physiology, morphology, anatomy, and biochemical processes under stress conditions, this article will present in detail the effect of differently synthesised ZnO nanoparticles in mitigating abiotic stresses such as heavy metal stress, temperature extremes, drought, and salinity stress. The article will focus how ZnO nanoparticles affect plant biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and gene expression level to combat abiotic stress. The elucidation of the mechanisms behind ZnO NP-mediated stress tolerance in plants and future prospective of this emerging technology has also been discussed. Overall, ZnO nanoparticles provide an eco-friendly, cost-effective approach to plant stress management, and these findings open up new avenues for the application of nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture, allowing for the cultivation of stress-tolerant crops and ensuring global food security in the face of changing climatic conditions.