Nanoparticles for Plant Surface Disinfection

The plant surface disinfection is more important to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance plant vigor, and mitigate risks to food safety, which can be caused by the plant surfaces being continuously exposed to diverse microbial communities, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The limitations of commonly used disinfectants due to their phytotoxicity, short-lived activity, environmental hazards, and growing concerns over chemical residues directed to the nanotechnology-based solutions, basically the use of nanoparticles as sustainable and innovative solutions for plant surface disinfection. Nanoparticles enable broad-spectrum and multi-target antimicrobial action due to the unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles such as high surface to volume ratio, tunable reactivity, and the ability to generate reactive oxygen species or release antimicrobial ions. The different classes of nanoparticles including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, and chitosan-based nanostructures have been investigated. Their antimicrobial activity and ability are connected through mechanisms such as disruption of microbial membranes, oxidative stress induction, mechanical damage to pathogens and ion release. The practical effectiveness in reducing microbial contamination and extending produce shelf life has been demonstrated by case studies in tissue culture, leafy vegetable sanitation, and post-harvest fruit protection. However, the challenges also remain regarding biosafety, production costs, potential accumulation on edible plant tissues, and regulatory acceptance. This chapter reviews the nanoparticle-based disinfectants highlighting their potential to reshape plant protection and post-harvest management by reviewing the types, mechanisms, evidence, applications, and future perspectives.