NANOTECHNOLOGY IN PEST MANAGEMENT: A FOCUSED REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES AGAINST COTTON PEST PECTINOPHORA GOSSYPIELLA

Shaista Shafiq

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The University of Faisalabad, Pakistan

S.shafiq@hotmail.com

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Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is one of the major crops commercially grown for its natural fiber, which is affected by pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). P. gossypiella feeds on cotton seeds, lint, and fibers from inside the cotton bolls. Several toxic pesticides are being used to control its population, but it cannot be controlled once it enters the cotton bolls. Hence, nanotechnology is introduced for sustainable pest management, offering precision, efficacy, and environmental friendly as compared to conventional chemical methods, in which nanoparticles, especially silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), penetrate the exoskeleton of the insect body and affect its normal body function. Once AgNPs enter the insect body, they produce Ag+ ions and reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing cellular toxicity, disruption in midgut epithelial cells, interference with enzyme activity and the respiratory system, disrupts ATP production, and induces oxidative stress. All these effects cause defects in the larval metabolism, feeding, and development, which causes mortality. Moreover, AgNPs can be prepared through the ecologically friendly green synthesis relying on plant extracts and reducing the environmental hazard caused by chemical synthesis. The application of AgNPs into cotton pest management systems is a potential approach that is environmentally friendly, resistance-free, and has the potential to offer profound protection of crops in the long run. This review identifies the mechanisms, synthesis strategies, and future opportunities of AgNPs in the effective management of P. gossypiella with the perspective


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