RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a potent mechanism for combating pathogenic fungi and oomycetes over the past decades. It offers a promising gene-silencing approach by targeting crucial genes involved in diseases caused by economically and scientifically significant fungal pathogens, such as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium species. Simultaneously, nano-agro-products have gained attention as alternatives to traditional fungicides in plant protection strategies. However, the instability of naked RNA molecules outside the cellular environment presents a challenge, as they degrade rapidly, limiting their efficacy for prolonged disease control. Concerns regarding the toxicity of protective nanoparticles to non-target organisms have also arisen. Integrating RNAi with nano-agro-products, particularly nanocarriers, to form RNA-nano complexes has demonstrated significant potential, providing enhanced RNA stability, reduced toxicity, and extended disease control. This review explores the mechanisms of RNA-nano complexes-mediated plant protection, addressing RNA stability and nano-toxicity issues while examining the prospects of RNA-nano complex research in plant pathogen management.

The sustainable utilization of rice straw is challenged by its recalcitrant lignocellulosic structure, especially under low-to-moderate field temperatures. In this study, a novel microbial consortium (SXJG15) mainly containing Sphingobacterium, Azospirillum, and Pseudomonas was enriched from overwintering rice stubble in Zhejiang, China, and evaluated for its rice straw degradation efficiency at 25 °C. Over an 18-day cultivation period, SXJG15 achieved a 52.5% degradation of total rice straw, including 60.2% cellulose, 76.3% hemicellulose, and 40.7% lignin. High extracellular enzymatic activities, including cellulases (up to 80.3 U/mL) and xylanases (up to 324.8 U/mL), were observed during the biodegradation process. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics analyses revealed a succession of dominant taxa, including Sphingobacterium, Azospirillum, and Cellulomonas. Further, CAZy annotation indicated that the SXJG15 enzyme system was rich in glycoside hydrolases (42.7%) and glycosyltransferases (34.2%), demonstrating its high potential for lignocellulose degradation. This study uniquely demonstrates the mesophilic (moderate temperature 25 °C) efficiency of SXJG15 in lignocellulose breakdown, provides new insights into the microbial mechanisms of straw decomposition, and lays a foundation for bioenergy and soil fertility applications for developing a sustainable agriculture system.

Arsenic (As) contamination poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity, affecting rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), an agronomically important crop. A comparative assessment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of chemogenic and biogenic manganese nanoparticles (C-MnNPs and B-MnNPs) for mitigating As toxicity. B-MnNPs were biosynthesized using cell-free filtrate of Bacillus pumilus MAY4, while C-MnNPs were obtained from Cwnano Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Greenhouse assays demonstrated that both C-MnNPs and B-MnNPs alleviated detrimental effects of As; however, B-MnNPs exhibited superior performance compared to their chemical counterparts. Compared to As-stressed plants, B-MnNPs enhanced leaf and root biomass (26.4% and 56.15%, respectively), net photosynthetic rate (64.8%), and stomatal conductance (50%). B-MnNPs more effectively reduced oxidative stress markers by activating antioxidant defense systems in both leaf and root tissues. Furthermore, B-MnNPs reduced in planta As accumulation while significantly improving uptake of essential nutrients, including potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and manganese, etc., in rapeseed plants. Expression studies revealed that B-MnNPs upregulated antioxidant defense and redox homeostasis related stress-responsive genes under induced As stress. Biochemical assays further confirmed the enrichment of stress-responsive phytohormones, including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid, in B-MnNP-treated As-stressed rapeseed plants, indicating activation of multi-tier defense response by B-MnNPs to cope with As stress. These findings establish B-MnNPs as a highly effective nano-enabled strategy for managing As toxicity in the rapeseed cultivation system. This research provides critical insights into the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying MnNP-mediated stress tolerance and offers a promising green nanotechnology approach for heavy metal-resilient crops.