Nanotechnology and Extremophiles: Agricultural Applications and Possibilities

The soil environment is a depository of various toxic substances causing stern human and environmental issues. The large-scale application of organic substances in agriculture activities is leading to accumulation of organic chemicals in soil resulting in serious damage to ecosystems. Nanotechnology-mediated soil reclamation enables an efficient method to replenish toxic contaminants and enhance soil health and fertility. The nanomaterials, including magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes and zero-valent iron nanoparticles, are competent candidates for soil reclamation. Application of bio-nanotechnology using microbes in various industries is popular due to its efficiency, environmental soundness and safety. Extremophiles are versatile in action supporting plant growth in extreme conditions such as detoxicants, biocontrol, biofertilizers, and bioinoculants. The extremophiles are capable of synthesizing unique nano-chemical substances such as biosurfactants and biopolymers possessing biodegradable properties as they inhabit extreme environments categorizing halophiles, thermophiles, acidophiles, anaerobes, and psychrophiles. Extremophiles are an ideal model for synthesizing varying types of NPs by biological means compared to physicochemical methods. Microbial groups, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea, and yeasts, are recognized for NPs biosynthesis. Thus, this chapter is an attempt to put emphasis on the synthesis of bio-NPs by different types of extremophiles, usage of bio-NPs with respect to different extreme environments, and potentials and possibilities of application of bio-NPs in agriculture contaminant lands.