ABSTRACT
Plant pathogens constitute a major constraint to crop production worldwide. The continuous use of chemical pesticides like fungicides, bactericides, etc., to manage agricultural pathogens has resulted in serious environmental concerns due to the hazardous effects of these chemicals on human health and the environment. Nanotechnology is a novel field with a wide range of applications that holds great potential in agriculture, which is yet to be fully explored. Metal nanoparticles have been synthesized in different ways using both chemical and biological means. Currently, the biological synthesis of nanoparticles using microbial agents like bacteria, fungi, and algae has provided new ways to improve agriculture in an eco-friendly manner so as to ensure sustainable food production at no detriment to the environment and human health. The multiple surface functional ability of microbial biosynthesized gold nanoparticles makes them flexible and robust for enhanced applications. In spite of the several potentials of microbial-mediated biosynthesized AuNPs, their application in managing economically important plant pathogens has not been fully studied; hence, no product has been developed for their commercial use in agricultural disease management.
