Green-Synthesized Nanoparticles for Eco-Friendly Plant Virus Management

Abstract

Plant viral diseases pose a critical threat to global food security, causing severe yield and economic losses. Conventional control measures such as resistant cultivars, crop rotation, and vector management are often ineffective due to the rapid evolution of viral pathogens. Green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as sustainable alternatives, exhibiting multifunctional antiviral roles including direct virion inactivation, activation of host defence responses, and targeted delivery of antiviral agents. Biogenic NPs derived from plants, microbes, fungi, algae, and biopolymers are inherently stable, biocompatible, and environmentally safe. Metal-based (Ag, ZnO, Cu), biopolymeric, and carbon-based nanomaterials have shown efficacy against major viruses such as TMV, CMV, TYLCV, and PRSV. However, large-scale synthesis, formulation stability, biosafety, and regulatory gaps remain key challenges. Integration with precision agriculture offers a strategic route to sustainable viral disease management.