Effect of chitosan nanoparticles on growth and physiology of crop plants

The research in plant sciences is confronted by numerous nonbiological and biological stresses. The list includes increased incidence of diseases, pests, and nutrient losses, along with exposure to drought, salinity, flooding, temperature, and heavy metal stress. The merger of nanotechnology is catching the eye of researchers at a very rapid pace for the last 3 decades. The unique attributes of NPs like size, presence of reactive groups, and high surface-to-volume ratio establish them as a fascinating tool. Among an extensive array of NPs, the chitosan-based nanoparticles are gaining momentum owing to their low-cost, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, plant growth regulation, antimicrobial activity, and stress inhibitory activity in plants. Over time, different types of chitosan-based NPs have been designed and tested for the enhancement of chitosan efficiency and ultimately widening the application areas of chitosan in plants. Therefore, the current chapter attempts to briefly discuss the plant protective roles of chitosan-based NPs specifically (mainly in the last 5 years) targeting its effect on the crop plant's growth and physiology along with the maintenance of agricultural sustainability. Additionally, the current challenges and future development opportunities are also discussed.