Nanotech can improve input use efficiency: Expert

MS Sidhu, a former research scholar from University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, during a talk on Tuesday said that "Implications of Nanotechnology in Agriculture"at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said that nanotechnology can play a big role in improving input use efficiency.

MS Sidhu, a former research scholar from University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, during a talk on Tuesday said that "Implications of Nanotechnology in Agriculture"at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said that nanotechnology can play a big role in improving input use efficiency.

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The lecture was organised by Indian Society of NanoScience and Nanotechnology in Agriculture (ISNNA), Electron Microscopy and Nanoscience Laboratory (EMNL), PAU.

Sidhu explained the role of nanotechnology in agriculture and related applications such as nano-formulations of agro-chemicals for applying pesticides and fertilisers for crop improvement; application of nano-sensors/nano-biosensors in crop protection for the identification of diseases and residues of agro-chemicals; and nano-devices for the genetic manipulation of plants, etc.

He also discussed his research based on laser assisted manipulation of Lillium pollen surface by creating nanohole to allow transfection of foreign DNA and how the optical coherence tomography could be utilised for live cell imaging or even non-invasive sectioning could be possible for seeds or plant sections.
SS Kukal, director, EMNL, thanked the speaker for enlightening the audience about the recent research and the upcoming techniques used in agri-nanotechnology.

Kukal emphasised that this science still at the stage of infancy, and has to do a lot in order to achieve success in improving input use efficiency.

He stated that PAU is making consistent efforts in creating infrastructure in this field.