Impact of Nanoparticles on Photosynthesis: Challenges and Opportunities

We are proceeding towards the insanitary and unhealthy supply of air, water and food due to perpetual anthropogenic perturbation of biosphere and such exasperation to nature's turf will surely be highly pernicious in near future and the marked probable grounds behind such deterioration of environment could be manifested in a wide array of event including accelerated rate of industrialization, mushrooming human population, rigorous agriculture, asinine disposal of industrial waste and rapid urbanization etc., these observable fact have not only wreaked the havoc on natural repositories but also be liable for grave contamination of life components on the planet. Since, India is considered as an agricultural country, and approx 75% of Human population in India depends solely on agriculture for their occupation. Instead of this, Indians are suffering from scarcity of food. In our Country the rate of supply of food is very low because of improper environmental condition to the plants especially crop plants. So, India can only be developed by raising the standard of agriculture or agricultural fields. Photosynthesis is the process of conversion of light energy into chemical energy, which is performed by all chlorophyllous organisms including bacteria, cyanobacteria/algae and plants, and their product majorly utilized by humans and animals. Researches proved that-from the solar energy, around 2 to 4% of total available energy is converted by plants for growth and development of new plants. The Photosynthetic process proceeds normally in these organisms, unless it has been wreaked by any unfortunate consequences, which block their pathway, and that hindrances may be in the form of any stresses like salinity stress, water stress, UV rays or any toxic substances like drugs, heavy metals or nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are those particles whose size ranges in nanometer but when penetrate in the body can show either devastating effect or beneficial effect on bacteria, algae and plants. As evidenced-some nanoparticles known to enhanced growth in some bacteria and cyanobacteria whilst other may found to be lethal to plants. To be very specific, they either boost up the photosynthesis processes by improving LHC (Light Harvesting Complex) in bacteria and plants or hinder their pathways by blocking ETC (Electron Transport Chain). Over the decades, the laboratories all around the world have now enrapt their work to decipher or allocate the probable cause behind failure of photosynthetic mechanism at any step, if occurs suddenly or by prolonged exposure to any stress the simultaneous recovery of photosynthetic rate by manipulating or regulating several genes and enzymes like RUBISCO, which plays an significant/irreplaceable role in catalyzation and conversion of CO2 into biological substances. Plasmon effect may enhance the activity of photosystem in the presence of metal-nanoparticles. The function of nanoparticles on photosynthesis are different on various organisms or plants, even they also varies from plants to plants at species level also. Therefore, in this mini-review a brief attempt has been made to summarize the present status associated with the effect of nanoparticles on photosynthesis.