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Abstract Although silicon-based nanomaterials (Si-based NMs) can promote crop yield and alleviate biotic and abiotic stress, the underlying performance mechanisms are unknown. In the present study, the effect of the root application of Si-based NMs on the physiological responses of cherry radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was evaluated in a life cycle experiment. Root exposure to 0.1% (w/w) Si-based NMs significantly increased total fresh weight, total chlorophyll and carotenoids by 36.0%, 14.2% and 18.7%, respectively, relative to untreated controls. The nutritional content of the edible tissue was significantly enhanced, with an increase of 23.7% in reducing sugar, 24.8% in total sugar, and 232.7% in proteins; in addition, a number of nutritional elements (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, K, Ca, and P) were increased. Si-based NMs exposure positively altered the phytohormone network and decreased abscisic acid content, both of which promoted radish fresh weight. LC-MS-based metabolomic analysis shows that Si-based NMs increased the contents of most carbohydrates (e.g., α-D-glucose, acetylgalactosamine, lactose, fructose, etc.) and amino acids (e.g., asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, valine, arginine, etc.), subsequently improving overall nutritional values. Overall, nanoscale Si-based agrochemicals have significant potential as a novel strategy for the biofortification of vegetable crops in sustainable nano-enabled agriculture. 

Projected population increases over the next 30 years have elevated the need to develop novel agricultural technologies to dramatically increase crop yield, particularly under conditions of high pathogen pressure. In this study, silica nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable dissolution rates were synthesized and applied to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) to enhance plant growth while mitigating development of the Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum. The hydrolysis rates of the silica particles were controlled by the degree of condensation or the catalytic activity of aminosilane. The results demonstrate that the plants treated with fast dissolving NPs maintained or increased biomass whereas the particle-free plants had a 34% decrease in biomass. Further, higher silicon concentrations were measured in root parts when the plants were treated with fast dissolving NPs, indicating effective silicic acid delivery. In a follow-up field study over 2.5 months, the fast dissolving NP treatment enhanced fruit yield by 81.5% in comparison to untreated plants. These findings indicate that the colloidal behavior of designed nanoparticles can be critical to nanoparticle-plant interactions, leading to disease suppression and plant health as part of a novel strategy for nanoenabled agriculture. 

Customized Cu3(PO4)2 and CuO nanosheets and commercial CuO nanoparticles were investigated for micronutrient delivery and suppression of soybean sudden death syndrome. An ab initio thermodynamics approach modelled how material morphology and matrix effects control the nutrient release. Infection reduced the biomass and photosynthesis by 70.3 and 60%, respectively; the foliar application of nanoscale Cu reversed this damage. Disease-induced changes in the antioxidant enzyme activity and fatty acid profile were also alleviated by Cu amendment. The transcription of two dozen defence- and health-related genes correlates a nanoscale Cu-enhanced innate disease response to reduced pathogenicity and increased growth. Cu-based nanosheets exhibited a greater disease suppression than that of CuO nanoparticles due to a greater leaf surface affinity and Cu dissolution, as determined computationally and experimentally. The findings highlight the importance and tunability of nanomaterial properties, such as morphology, composition and dissolution. The early seedling foliar application of nanoscale Cu to modulate nutrition and enhance immunity offers a great potential for sustainable agriculture.