Engineered Nanomaterials and their Influence on Plant Root System and Rhizospheric Microorganisms

Nanotechnology is the study of microscopic engineered particles (from 0.1 to 100 nm), have exclusive features, such as pore size, large surface area, high reaction and physical structure. The emergence of nanotechnology has been quick and evolved in less than two decades. The application of nanomaterials (NMs) in various discipline for instance, medical, chemical, material and plant sciences are gaining momentum at commercial levels; and their increased production and utilization pose risks on plant system and food chain. These NMs may enter the environment as fertilizers or pesticides or through waste streams, accidental spills, and construction material. It is important to understand how the increased NMs production and concentration in the environment may affect plant root system and soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere. These NMs have shown interactions with plant roots, soil microbes and plant pathogens. Diverse soil microorganisms play essential roles in maintaining the soil ecosystem, soil health and plant productivity. These rhizospheric microorganisms and plant root system are influenced, positively as well as negatively, by various kinds of NMs but the information on this aspect is still limited. Considering the recent reports, this review paper overview major impact of different NMs on plants root system and the rhizospheric microorganisms; and also lists points for future research on the subject.