Biophysics and Beyond

Cotton is a vital global agricultural commodity that faces persistent abiotic and biotic constraints, such as drought, salinity, heavy metals and pests, which threaten yield and fiber quality. While traditional agricultural methods address these challenges, emerging nanotechnology offers innovative solutions for crop improvement. This review examines the multifaceted roles of nanoparticles and nano-formulations in cotton cultivation, highlighting their applications in seed priming, targeted nutrient delivery, stress mitigation and pest management. Various nanomaterials - including zinc oxide, nanosilica, iron oxide, cerium oxide, silver-selenium nanocomposites and carbon dots - demonstrate significant potential to enhance germination, physiological attributes, antioxidant defense mechanisms and photosynthetic protection under stress conditions. Furthermore, integrating nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides improves nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity. However, evidence indicates that nanoparticle efficacy is strictly dose-dependent, with excessive concentrations leading to phytotoxicity, oxidative damage and structural cellular injury. Ultimately, optimized and crop-specific nano-integration serves as an effective stress-mitigation and yield-enhancement strategy for sustainable cotton production.