Research shows that the application of nanoparticles has the potential to improve plant growth and yield, their effect

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future work and future-work section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 3 journals. Those papers have been cited 277 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• From synthesis to soil: the multifunctional role of nanofertilizers in sustainable crop production (2026) · Plant and Soil · doi

  Although NFs show strong potential to improve nutrient-use efficiency and crop productivity, further research is required before their widespread agricul- tural adoption. Future studies should prioritize multi- season field trials to validate NF performance under diverse soil and climatic conditions. Advances in nanomaterial engineering may also enable the devel- opment of next-generation smart NFs capable of con- trolled nutrient release and targeted delivery (Ul Ain et  al. 2023). In addition, standardized approaches for evaluating environmental fate, safety, and life-cycle impacts of nanomaterials are necessary to support reg- ulatory approval and responsible use (Onyeaka et  al. 2022). Finally, improving scalable and cost-effective synthesis methods, including green production strate- gies, will be essential for translating NF technologies from experimental research to practical agricultural applications (Gilbertson et  al. 2020; Jha et  al. 2023). These research priorities should also consider eco- logical safety and regulatory frameworks discussed in earlier sections of this review, highlighting the

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: nutrient safety show strong potential improve efficiency crop productivity further required widespread agricul tural adoption
• Drought and salt stress mitigation in crop plants using stress-tolerant auxin-producing endophytic bacteria: a futuristic approach towards sustainable agriculture (2024) · Frontiers in Plant Science · cited 41× · doi

  Despite extensive research focusing on the isolation and screening of potential endophytes through short-term experiments, there is a notable gap in studies that span throughout the entire cultivation cycle, from sowing to harvesting of the crops to observe the effects of the potential isolates on stress alleviation and crop yield improvement. In addition, subsequent steps post-identification using the endophytes such as bioinoculant development, patenting, and marketing are imperative to make these advancements available to farmers for application in crop fields. Furthermore, it is crucial to choose an appropriate carrier for endophyte protection and stabilization during transportation and storage. Therefore, comparative studies on formulations with various carriers should be conducted to maximize the product’s effectiveness during use. To address these challenges, a suggested roadmap is delineated to guide translational research in ensuring global food security by developing bioinoculants for sustainable agricultural practices in the face of a rapidly changing climate (Figure 3). A recent technological advancement in increasing agricultural productivity is the use of nanoparticles, including inorganic and organic nanomaterials. It has been reported that several endophytic bacteria produce nanomaterials, which have been demonstrated to help the plant endure abiotic stresses. Besides, using nanomaterial for bioinoculant development may enhance its effectiveness, bioavailability, and stability (Meena et al., 2021; Adeleke et al., 2022). However, the use of nanoparticles in auxin production by endophytes and auxin-mediated stress tolerance in crops needs exploration. The application of phytohormones directly using nanoparticles for plant growth promotion and defense induction has been recently explored. Recent studies have combined nanocarriers with hormones like SA, GA, JA, ABA, and IAA for the promotion of plant growth properties (Pereira et al., 2017; Clemente et al., 2018; Sun et al., 2018; Kumaraswamy et al., 2019; Korpayev et al., 2021; Gonzalez- Montfort et al., 2022; Wu et al., 2022). Future experiments that analyze the effect of nanoparticles on auxin production by endophytes and employ their use in the formulation of bioinoculants will be beneficial. This will promote studies to understand how these nanomaterials can modulate auxin biosynthesis, transport, and signaling in endophytes and plants under drought and salt stress conditions. In conclusion, overall evidence suggests that the phytohormone auxin plays several roles in tolerating drought and salt stresses, and

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: endophytes auxin nanoparticles stress using nanomaterials plant potential experiments crops crop bioinoculant development application effectiveness
• Nanoparticle applications in agriculture: overview and response of plant-associated microorganisms (2024) · Frontiers in Microbiology · cited 118× · doi

  Research is required to promote sustainable and precision agricultural practices that incorporate nanofertilizers and nanopesticides, - Investigation into the effects of nanoparticles on plant-associated microbial communities is needed

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: research required promote sustainable precision agricultural practices incorporate
• Nanoparticle applications in agriculture: overview and response of plant-associated microorganisms (2024) · Frontiers in Microbiology · cited 118× · doi

  While research shows that the application of nanoparticles has the potential to improve plant growth and yield, their effect on the diversity and function of plant-associated microorganisms remains under-explored.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: plant shows application nanoparticles potential improve growth yield effect diversity function associated microorganisms remains explored

Questions about this gap