Nano-gardening: Harnessing Metal Nanoparticles for Enhanced In Vitro Plant Regeneration

Nano-gardening has revolutionized agriculture by leveraging nanotechnology for enhanced plant growth and sustainability. Among different types of nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are recognized as potential candidates for use in diverse agricultural products like fertilizers, growth enhancers, and pesticides per se. Additionally, there is an increasing interest in regulating plant regeneration with the application of MNPs. Understanding the influence of these nano-scale particles on different aspects of plant developmental biology and their underlying mechanism is quite indispensable. In this review, the effect of different MNPs like silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), Titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NP), Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNP), Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONP), and Copper nanoparticles (CuNP) was considered. Among all the applications of nanoparticles on plant systems, the studies on improvements in shoots and root multiplication, induction of callus cultures, and establishment of somatic embryogenesis have gained the utmost importance. The advancement in plant tissue culture techniques has enormous importance in plant micropropagation, disease elimination, and increase in plant secondary metabolite production. The present review focused on the role of different MNPs in controlling the plant regeneration processes and their associated mechanisms of action. The study also tried to compile the overall plausible mode of action of MNPs in upgrading the plant regeneration process which involves the triggering of different signalling cascades in plant cells.