Implication of Nanotechnology for the Management of Seed-Borne Pathogens in Cereal Crops

Healthy seeds are the foundation of the entire agricultural system. The changing climatic pattern has led to the emergence of toxicogenic fungal pathogens that attack the seeds of globally eaten food crops like wheat, maize, rice, etc. Seeds of cereal crops are being attacked by various seed-borne pathogens that reduce the annual yield every year. These seed-borne fungal pathogens destroy the yield and quality of the produced crop by the accumulation of poisonous mycotoxins. To curb the outburst of seed-borne pathogens, a highly efficient tool should be designed to bypass the conventional agricultural practices that would be sustainable too. Nanotechnology has introduced new avenues for the management of plant diseases including seed-borne pathogens. With the aid of nanotechnology, various nano-hybrids and nanocomposite materials are synthesized that imparts antifungal activity against seed-borne pathogens. This chapter reviewed the various seed-borne diseases of cereal crops and their management with the aid of nanotechnology.