Nanotechnology scope and applications for wheat production: A review of recent advances

Abstract

Post-Green Revolution period, wheat (Triticum aestivum) is still the most grown staple food grain crop in the world, after rice. Worldwide, it is grown in a range of different environments over an area of 221.6 million hectares (M ha) with an annual production likely to reach more than 750.4 million metric tons in 2016-17 (Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, 2018). Despite of this significant growth, the world population in some parts is still facing hunger crisis due to insufficient availability of food grains. To meet the future food demands imposed by overwhelming increasing population which is expected to reach nine billions in 2050, the world wheat production must continue to increase by two per cent annually. This challenge of increasing wheat production is daunting as the wheat cropping system at present is constrained by climatic fluctuations, poor soil health and has increased risk of epidemic outbreak of diseases and insect-pests. To address these challenges, innovative technologies with a potential of increasing the sustainability of the present day cropping systems are required to be introduced in modern agriculture. Among these technological advancements, nanotechnology is gathering significant contemplations due to its wide spectrum applications in agriculture and allied sectors and is recognized as the sixth most revolutionary technology in the modern era. It has a wider application in the field of crop production, food security, sustainability and climate change and is being utilized for developing several precise tool sets like nanofertilizer, nanopesticide, nanoherbicide, nanosensor and smart delivery systems for controlled an sustained release of agrochemicals. Recent research evidences indicated that intervention of nanotechnology in wheat farming is still in its early stages, although have bright prospects for efficient nutrient utilization through nanoformulations of fertilizers, breaching yield barriers through bionanotechnology, surveillance and management of pests and diseases and development of new-generation pesticides etc.