Nanotechnology and its Applications in Agriculture was the topic of the seminar. The summary discusses: 1. Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter at the nanoscale of 1-100 nm. It can be used to create new materials and products with potential to change society. 2. Applications of nanotechnology in agriculture include crop improvement through faster growth, disease resistance, and gene regulation. It can also aid precision agriculture, soil management, pest and disease control, and water management. 3. Nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and other nanoproducts offer benefits like increased nutrient use efficiency, targeted delivery, and reduced application needs compared to conventional methods.

1. COLLEGE OF TEMPERATE SERICULTURE, MIRGUND
Seminar Title
Nanotechnology and its Applications in Agriculture
Mohd Younus Wani
SEMINAR INCHARGE
Dr. M. R. Mir
(Associate Professor, COTS, Mirgund, SKUAST-K.)

2. Nanotechnology
2
Nanotechnology is the art and science of manipulating
matter at the nanoscale to create new and unique materials
and products with enormous potential to change society.
US Environmental Protection Agency (2014) defined
nanotechnology as the science of understanding the matter
at dimensions of roughly 1-100 nm.
A nanometer (nm) is one-billionth of a meter, smaller than the
wavelength of visible light and a hundred-thousandth the width of
a human hair.
Nanotechnology deals with anything measuring between 1 and
100 nm.

3. On Dec. 29, 1959 he gave radical lecture at an American Physical Society
meeting titled as “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”.
Why can not we write the entire 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia
Britannica on the head of a pin.
Adaptability to manipulate, control, assemble, produce and manufacture
things at atomic precision. 3
Historical background of Nanotechnology

4. 4
Norio Taniguchi, Tokyo Science Professor coined the term
Nanotechnology (1974).
In 1986 K. E. Drexler wrote Ist. book on nanotechnology “Engines
of Creation”
Invention of the scanning tunneling microscope in
1981 by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer and the
discovery of fullerene (C60) by Harry Kroto,
Richard Smalley and Robert Curl in 1985 lead to
the emergence of nanotechnology.

5. Nano Scale
5

6. 0.22 m
Fullerenes C60
22 cm 0.7 nm
10 millions times
smaller
1 billion times
smaller
12,756 km
1.27 × 107 m 0.7 × 10-9 m
6

7. Methods of nanoparticle production
7
Two Approaches
Bottom up approach
This method arrange smaller components into more
complex assemblies
Formation of carbon nanotubes
Top down approach
This method create smaller devices by using larger
ones to direct their assembly

8. Synthesis of Nanoparticles
8

9. Green Synthesis of nanoparticles
9
The alfalfa plants were grown in an artificial, gold-rich soil at the
University of Texas-El Paso.
Biological entities like bacteria, fungi, higher plants, actinomycetes and
viruses.
Mulberry leaf extract for synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
Sericins extracted from non-mulberry (Samia cynthia ricini) and
mulberry (Bombyx mori) silkworms for green synthesis of AgNPs.
Fibroin–albumin nanoparticles show better viability and
biocompatibility.

10. Pseudomonas stuzeri Ag 259 bacteria are commonly found in silver mines. Capable of
accumulating silver inside or outside their cell walls.
Low concentrations of metal ions (Au⁺, Ag⁺ etc) can be converted to metal nanoparticles
by Lactobacillus strain present in milk.
Sulphate reducing bateria of the family Desulfobacteriaceae can form 2-5nm ZnS
nanoparticle. Klebsiella pneumoniae can be used to synthesize CdS nanoparticle.
Tobacco mosaic virus helps the mineralization of nanowires.
Aspergillus niger synthesis silver nanoparticles.
10

11. Tools used to characterize Nanoparticles
11
SEM Zetasizer Nano Z TEM
XRD
FTIR Spectroscopy

12. Properties of nanoparticles
(Bhattacharyya et al. 2010) 12
Nanoparticles have high chemical reactivity
and optical behaviour.
For example, titanium dioxide and zinc
oxide become transparent at the nanoscale
and have found application in sunscreens.

13. Nanomaterials have relatively larger surface area and Small size (High surface to
volume ratio).
Arranged into ordered layers and emergence of additional electronic states.
High breaking strength and toughness at low temperatures and super plasticity at
high temperatures.
New entry ways (high mobility in human body, plants and environment).
Brownian motion.
13
(Bhattacharyya et al., 2010)

14. Fullerenes
Carbon Nanotubes Quantum dots Dendrimers
Nano sensors
Nanostructures
14
Nanorobot
Nanorods
Nanocomposite

15. Nano structures in nature.
15
Attach and detach their toes in milliseconds.
Run on vertical, inverted, rough and smooth surfaces.
Gecko toes do not degrade, foul, or attach accidentally
to the wrong spot.
They are self-cleaning and don't stick to each other.

16. Nanostructure in Lotus leaf
16
The lotus leaf is said to be self-cleaning because droplets of
water roll off and remove the dirt particles.
Nano scale features, along with a waxy non-polar coating,
together create a superhydrophobic surface.

17. Iridescence in nature
Different colours of peacock feathers, butterfly and
flowers create iridescence.
The iridescent color is created by nanometer-sized
structures.
17
Why is there iridescence in nature.
Attract mates or pollinators
Camouflage

18. Why We study Nanotechnology
Conventional farming technologies neither be able to increase productivity nor
restore ecosystems damaged by existing technologies back to their pristine state.
Efficient resource utilization.
Human Resource development and capacity building
Mechanism of action of Nano-fertilizers, Nano-pesticides and Nano biosensors.
It is dreamed that nanotechnology will sponsor the next industrial revolution.
18

20. Applications of Nanotechnology in Agriculture
Crop improvement
Precision agriculture
Soil management
Plant disease diagnostics
Efficient use of pesticides and fertilizers
Water management
Post Harvest Technology
Gene expression and Regulation 20

21. Nanotechnology in crop improvement
Scientists at the Iowa State University have utilized
3-nm mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) in
delivering DNA into isolated plant cells.
This technique has been applied to introduce DNA
successfully to tobacco and corn plants (Cre
protein).
DNA sequencing using graphene nanoribbon (kyu
min et al., 2013).
21

22. Nanotechnology can help crops to grow faster
(Khodakovskaya et al., 2009)
and
(Taha et al., 2016) 22
CNTs enhance germination of seeds. The germination
increases for seeds that germinated on medium containing
CNTs (10−40 μg/mL) compared to control in tomato.
CNTs are promising nanomaterials for enhancing growth
and regeneration of date palm in vitro cultures. CNTs can
promote shoot length and leaf number and enhanced root
number.
Nano conc.
(mg/l)
Shoot length
(cm)
Leaf
number
Root number
Control 0.9 2.4 0.0
0.05 2.5 4.0 1.6
0.1 4.3 3.0 2.6

23. Effect of silver nanoparticles on seed germination and seedling growth of Boswellia
ovaliofoliolata and ZnO NPs on cluster bean.
a) Control, b) SNPs 10 µg/ml,
c) 20 µg/ml and d) 30 µg/ml
23
Effect of 10ppm ordinary and nano ZnO on
phenology of cluster bean. (Savithramma et al., 2012)

24. Effect of silver nanoparticles on seed germination in Fenugreek
Seed.
S. No Concentration Germination
%age
Speed of
Germination
1 Control (0µg mL-1) 64.44 3.26
2 10µg mL-1 76.11 4.10
3 20µg mL-1 75.74 4.07
4 30µg mL-1 74.63 4.04
5 40µg mL-1 70.74 3.96
(Hojjat, 2015) 24

25. Nano pesticides
Active ingredients or inert ingredients with a particle size of 100 nm or less.
Formulation
Nano emulsion
Nano suspension
Nano encapsulation
25

27. DNA-tagged nano gold: A new tool for the control of the Spodoptera litura
DNA-tagged gold nanoparticle have devastating effect on the larval tissue of S. litura
and therefore be a useful component of an integrated pest management strategy.
Metal nano-particles could be a better alternative to synthetic insecticides.
500 ppm was best treatment.
2nd instar 3 days after treatment 2nd instar 4 days after treatment 27

28. 2nd instar 5 days after treatment 2nd instar 6 days after treatment 2nd instar 7 days after treatment
Control
28

29. Effect of Different Concentrations Of DNA-tagged gold Nano Particle On 2nd instar of 3rd 4th
and 5th day after treatment.
(Chakravarthy et al., 2012)
Treatment(ppm) Percentage of larval mortality days after
treatment
3rd 4th 5th
200 10.0 27.5 35.0
300 22.5 42.5 62.5
400 25.0 55.0 72.5
500 30.0 57.5 75.0
Control 0.0 0.0 0.0
C.D at 5% 8.81 8.66 9.20
29

30. Nano Pheromones
(Bhagat et al. 2013) 30
Nano gel prepared using methyl
eugenol (ME) + low-molecular mass
gelator.
Management of Bactrocera dorsalis
very Stable at ambient conditions
Works well in rainy season

31. Fumigant properties of nano-encapsulated essential oil from artemisia sieberi on
tribolium castaneum
The nano-capsule of Artemisia oil shown to possess
fumigant toxicity as well as its longer persistence
compared to Artemisia oil before formulation.
Nano-capsules like Polyurea-formaldehyde (PUF) are
required in order to improve the insecticidal toxicity,
stability, strength or sustained release.
(Negabhan et al. 2012) 31

32. Development of an insecticidal Nano emulsion with Manilkara
subsericea (Sapotaceae) extract
(Fernandes et al. 2014) 32
Extract from fruits of Manilkara
subsericea and its triterpenes.
Active against cotton pest (Dysdercus
peruvianus).
No effect on mortality of mice.
Nano emulsion is safe for non-target
organisms.

33. Nano particles in insects
The ferromagnetic nanomaterials are
abundant in head, thorax and
abdomen of ants (Abrocado et al.,
2005).
Ferromagnetic nano material has also
been detected in Apis mellifera
abdomen and identified as suitable for
magnetic reception (Desoil et al., 2005).
33
(Bhattacharyya et al., 2010)

34. Nanoparticles in Disease Management (Crop Protection)
34
Ag nanoparticles
Copper nanoparticles
Zinc nanoparticles
Silica nanoparticles
Nanocomposites

35. Antifungal effectiveness of nano silver against Rose powdery
mildew
Kim et al., 2008 35
The effects of Nano silver
colloidal solution against
rose powdery mildew was
very high.
In addition, the Nano silver
did not have phyto-toxicity
on the leaves, stem and buds
of the rose plants.
well dispersive and stabilized Nano
silver could be recommended as
new fungicide for powdery mildew.

36. Photographs of leaves with powdery mildew
Before treatment a week after treatment
before treatment immediately after treatment 2 days after
36

37. Chitosan nanoparticles
37
Chitosan nanoparticles are found to be more effective against plant pathogens like
Fusarium solani.
The positive charge of chitosan interacts with negatively charged phospholipid components of fungi
membrane, which in turn alter cell permeability of plasma membrane and causes the leakage of
cellular contents, which consequently leads to death of the cell (Garcia-Rincon et al., 2010).
Chitosan nanoparticles reduced egg laying of Callosobruchus maculatus.

38. Nano silica
Nano-silica gets absorbed into the lipids of
cuticle by physiosorption and causes death
by dehydration.
100% growth inhibition was seen in the
Pythium ultimum, Colletotrichum, Botrytis
cinere and Rhyzoctonia solani (10 ppm).
38

39. Copper and Zinc oxide nanoparticles
39
Cu NPs Inhibit growth of Phytophthora cinnamomic, Fusarium graminearum and
Phytophthora infestans. (Banik and Perez-de-Luque, 2017).
Cu NPs have potential to enhance growth and yield of wheat significantly to match the
food demand of growing population (Hafeez et al., 2015).
Zn NPs Inhibit growth of two post harvest pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and
Penicillium expansum (He et al., 2011).

40. Nano fertilizers
40
Unique features of nano-fertilizers include ultrahigh absorption rate, increased
production, photosynthesis and significant leaf surface area expansion.
Slow and effective release of right doses of plant nutrients. This makes nutrients
more available to the nano scale plant pores.
The application of nano-urea can save up to 12.4-41.7 % of nitrogen application
to the soil (Huang et al., 2015).
First evidence on phloem transport of nanoscale calcium oxide in groundnut
was reported by (Deepa et al. 2014).
Maize treated with TiO2 nanoparticles showed significant growth compared to
its bulk treatment.

41. Starch-based nanoparticles in sustainable agriculture
41
Agricultural nanotechnology can be applied to sustainable production methods such
as organic agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture, Forest, Nature and Energy (DAFNE) at the University of Tuscia
in Italy is carrying out a research project for the development of starch-based nanocontainers
for the delivery of nutrients, bio stimulants and crop protection molecules into the plants tissues.
The clear advantage of this approach is that starch is biocompatible, biodegradable
and non-toxic for plants, animals and the environment.
(Prameela, 2017)

42. Why Nano-fertilizers
Increases
Nutrient Use
Efficiency
(NUE)
80-100 times
less
requirement
than chemical
fertilizers
30% more
nutrient
mobilization
by the plants.
17-54 %
improvement
in the crop
yield.
42
(Zheng et al., 2012)

43. Nano fertilizers
43

44. Weed management by Nano herbicides
44
Soybean based nano surfactant reported to make glyphosate resistant crops
(Kokiladevi et al., 2007).
Target specific NPs inhibit glycolysis of food reserve in the root system.
This will make the specific weed plant to starve for food and gets killed.
Up to 88% detoxification of a herbicide “atrazine’’ by Carboxy Methyl
Cellulose (CMC) nanoparticles has been reported.

45. Smart delivery of nano encapsulated herbicide in the
crop-weed environment
45
(Chinnamuthu and Kokiladevei, 2007)

46. Soil management
To prevent erosion.
In 2003, ETC Group of scientists reported that a nanotech-based soil
binder called SoilSet developed by Sequoia Pacific Research of Utah
(USA). SoilSet is a quick-setting mulch which relies on chemical
reactions on the nanoscale to bind the soil together.
46
In sandy soils carbon tubes are used to retain water.

47. Precision farming
(Sharon and Sharon,
2008)
47
Bio-Nanotechnology has designed sensors which give increased sensitivity
and earlier response to environmental changes.
Used to detect pathogens. Such sensors have already been employed in US and Australia.
Smart dust (Smart mini laboratories)
This is the future of agriculture, nano-sensors will be scattered like dust across the
farms and fields, working like the eyes, ears and noses of the farming world. These
sensors communicate the information they sense

48. Gene Regulation by NPs
Nano Script is a Nanoparticle based artificial transcription
factor for effective gene regulation.
Gene regulation by Nano Script is non-viral.
Serves as an attractive alternative to current methods that
uses viral vectors.
Transcriptome response of Escherichia coli bacteria to
acute treatment with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).
188 genes were regulated, 161 were up-regulated and 27
were down-regulated. 48
(McQuillan and
Shaw 2014)

49. Nanoscience Reducing Emissions
Nanoscience is also helping agriculture
and the food industry to reduce emissions
from production operations.
49

50. Electro spinning
50
From harvesting the cotton to finalizing fabric, Over
25% of the cotton fiber is lost as a waste.
With the use of newly-developed solvents and a technique
called electrospinning, scientists produce 100 nanometer-
diameter fibers that can be used as a fertilizer or pesticide
absorbent.
Rice husk, a rice-milling byproduct can be used as a source of
renewable energy. When rice husk is burned a large amount of
high-quality Nanosilica is produced and utilized in making
other materials such as glass.
cotton Fabric
Waste
Electrospinng
Nanofiber

51. Food packaging and food safety
51
It is estimated that 30 to 40% of the food produced on
earth goes to waste before it can be consumed. The
situation is even worse in case of fruits and vegetables.
Graphene layers in the polymer matrix are capable of
producing a tortuous path, which acts as a barrier for
gases.

52. Removal of heavy metals
Heavy metals are known to be toxic to plants and animals.
Ligand based nanocoating can be utilized for effective removal of heavy metals as
these have high absorption tendency.
The adsorption of heavy metals by nanostructured graphene oxide was observed in
the following order: nickel > zinc > lead > cadmium > chromium(Sheet et al ., 2014).
52

54. Feed efficacy of V instar of Bombyx mori larvae fed with different concentrations of
silver nanoparticles treated MR2 mulberry leaves.
Experimental
Groups and
Concentration
Food
Consumption
(gm)
Food
Utilization
(gm)
Approximate
Digestibility
(%)
Food
Consumption
Index (%)
Co-efficient of
Food Utilization
(%)
Control (C) 48.1 45.4 87.1 39.4 86.3
AgNPs (T1) 25% 52.7 49.4 90.4 43.5 91.2
AgNps (T2) 50% 47.8 42.0 86.4 37.9 85.8
AgNps (T3) 75% 46.9 42.9 86.7 36.1 84.8
AgNps (T4) 100% 46.5 45.0 86.2 35.7 84.7
(Prabu et al., 2012) 54

55. Efficacy of Nanoparticles against Streptococcus sp. infecting
silkworms
Treatment Larval mortality
(%)
% disease reduction over
Control
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 50 ppm 21.67 48.40
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 100 ppm 19.67 53.17
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 200 ppm 18.00 57.14
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 500 ppm 19.33 53.98
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 1000 ppm 16.00 61.91
Inoculated Control 42.00
(Annual Report, CSR&TI, Mysore, 2012-13) 55

56. Efficacy of Nanoparticles against Staphylococcus sp. infecting
silkworms
Treatment Larval mortality (%) % disease reduction over Control
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 50 ppm 19.33 46.79
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 100 ppm 17.00 53.21
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 200 ppm 14.33 60.56
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 500 ppm 16.67 54.12
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 1000 ppm 13.67 62.37
Inoculated Control 36.33
(Annual Report, CSR&TI, Mysore, 2012-13) 56

57. Efficacy of Nanoparticles against B. thuringiensis sp.
infecting silkworms
Treatment Larval mortality
(%)
% disease reduction over
Control
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 50 ppm 51.00 40.70
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 100 ppm 46.33 45.13
Streptococcus sp + Ag Nano - 200 ppm 41.33 51.94
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 500 ppm 44.67 48.06
Streptococcus sp + MgO - 1000 ppm 39.33 54.27
Inoculated Control 86.00
(Annual Report, CSR&TI, Mysore 2012-13) 57

58. Effect of Silver and MgO Nanoparticles on survival and
cocoon characters
Treatment Survival
(%)
Single Cocoon
wt. (g)
Single Shell
wt.(g)
Silk
percentage
Ag Nano - 50 ppm 90.67 1.561 0.358 22.93
Ag Nano - 100 ppm 94.33 1.629 0.366 22.49
Ag Nano - 200 ppm 93.67 1.753 0.375 21.40
MgO - 500 ppm 93.00 1.649 0.373 22.63
MgO - 1000 ppm 92.00 1.601 0.365 22.85
Normal Control 87.00 1.603 0.355 22.14
(Annual Report, CSR&TI, Mysore, 2012-13) 58

59. The Bactericidal spectrum and viricidal effects of silver Nanoparticles
against the pathogens in Sericulture
(a) 10% of silver nanoparticles for 8
hours.
(b) 0.1 M PBS pH 7.0 for the same
conditions.
(Li et al., 2013) 59
CPV
Bacillus sp.
Biological test for NPV

60. Interaction of NPs with BmNPV Polyhedra in controlling
Grasserie
(Das et al., 2016) 60
NPs based novel approach to combat virus inactivation in general.
The extent of deformation of BmNPV polyhedra caused by
treatment of differently functionalized silica nanoparticles.
Hydrophilic silica nanoparticles
Hydrophobic silica nanoparticles
Lipophilically coated silica nanoparticle
In all cases BmNPV polyhedra was exposed at 7000 ppm of dosage.

61. Effect of green Nano gold particles on cocoon and silk traits of mulberry silkworm
(Bombyx mori L.)
(Patil et al., 2016) 61
Different concentrations, viz., 50, 100, 200 and 300 ppm.Ist. instar to 5th instar
daily once at morning (first feed) and three remaining feeds in a day were normal.
300 ppm is the specific dose and directly stimulates the posterior receptor part of
the silk gland, resulting in more fibroin synthesis.
Parameter 300 ppm Control
Chawki larvae weight (30) 10.81 g 7.14 g
Mature larval weight (10) 47.99 g 44.26 g
Mature silk gland weight 3.31g 2.1g
cocoon weight (10 cocoons) 23.75 g 20.54 g
Shell ratio 16.54 % 16.10 %
Fibroin 78.07 60.53

62. Silkworms eating graphene spin silk twice as strong
Researchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China
Demonstrated that mechanically enhanced silk fibers could be naturally produced by feeding
silkworms with diets containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) or graphene.
50 % more stronger than conventional silk.
Highly ordered crystalline structure.
62

63. TiO2 NPs Improves Silkworm Resistance to BmNPV
(Xu et al., 2015) 63

64. Effect of feeding different concentrations of AgNPs on Silkworm Growth
(Meng et al., 2017)
Group 1 (C):double-distilled (dd)H2O
Group 2: 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L AgNPs).
400 mg/L of AgNPs promoted the growth and
cocoon weights of B. mori.
High concentrations (≥800 mg/L) of AgNPs
also improved B. mori growth, but that
resulted in death.
64
Control
dd H2O
400 mg/L
AgNPs

65. Risks of Nanotechnology
65
Nanoparticles could be inhaled, swallowed, absorbed through skin.
They trigger inflammation and weaken the immune system. And also
interfere with regulatory mechanisms of enzymes and proteins.
Nanoparticles could accumulate in soil, water and plants.
So care should be taken while working with nanoparticles.

66. Conclusion
66

67. 67

68. LIVE GREEN
GO GREEN
AND
PRAY FOR GREEN

69. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT IN NANO WORLD
For your Patient Listening.
Awaiting your precious inputs
and suggestions.