Nanoparticles synthesis via microorganisms and their prospective applications in agriculture

Nanotechnology is a technology, sparking a real revolution in all branches of science. Due to its distinctive features at the nanoscale (less than 100 nm), nanotechnology refers to as the usage of nanomaterials in monitoring of numerous compounds inside the diverse fields. By taking the advantage of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, yeast, actinomycetes, microalgae, etc. in order to produce nanoparticles is a swift and green biological method compared to alternative methods (physical and chemical). The review article extensively covers the latest progress for the production of various nanoparticles such as copper, gold, silver, as well as other metal nanoparticles, as well as oxide and sulfide nanoparticles by the microorganisms along with their characterization methods. In the next section we have covered all the agricultural applications which can be done using nanoparticles to increase crop output, diminish the consumption of pesticides and to attain food security. Nanoparticles have enormous applications in the agriculture sector in crop improvement, crop protection via nanoherbicides, nanofungicides, antimicrobial activities against phytopathogens etc. However, the interaction of the nanoparticles with nutrients that are vital for plants and other substances can influence the toxicity of the nanoparticles. So, there is a need to have comprehensive research on various aspects i.e., nanoparticle shape, concentration, exposure time, environmental factors etc. before the commercialization of nanoparticles. •This article highlights the microbial synthesis of nanoparticles using various microbes i.e., bacteria, fungi, algae, actinomycetes etc.•Various methods for the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles have been covered along with the mechanism.•Microbially synthesized nanoparticles are ecologically sustainable, less expensive and non-toxic etc.•Microbially synthesized nanoparticles have vast applications in agriculture as nanopesticides, nanofungicides, nanosensors, antimicrobial activities against plant pathogen etc. resulting into crop improvement and crop protection.