ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Biotechnology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1664771
This article is part of the Research TopicEnhancing Plant Resilience and Productivity through Metabolic Engineering and Environmental ModulationView all articles
Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Indigenous Medicinal Plants for Antibacterial Applications: A Smart IoT-Integrated Framework for Sustainable Input Management in Organic Farming
Provisionally accepted
- Symbiosis International University Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Nashik, India
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The overuse of synthetic agrochemicals in conventional farming has led to serious concerns regarding soil degradation, microbial imbalance, and ecosystem toxicity. In response, this study proposes a novel framework that integrates green nanotechnology and smart farming to offer a sustainable alternative for plant protection in organic agriculture. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized via a green method using aqueous extracts from Azadirachta indica (neem), a widely known indigenous medicinal plant with strong antimicrobial properties. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and SEM to confirm their crystalline structure, morphology, and functional group interaction. The synthesized ZnO NPs were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through agar well diffusion assays. Results revealed significant inhibition zones, affirming their potential as an effective bio-input for plant disease management. To enhance efficiency, an IoT-based monitoring framework was developed using environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, and leaf wetness) integrated with a mobile dashboard. This enabled real-time detection of plant stress signals and automated triggers for targeted ZnO NP application through a low-volume sprayer system. Moreover, the system collects data on disease prevalence, input usage, and crop health, aiding in informed decision-making and digital record-keeping for certification purposes. This interdisciplinary approach demonstrates the synergy between indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge, sustainable nanomaterials, and modern smart farming technologies. It offers a scalable, eco-efficient, and farmer-friendly plant protection solution that aligns with the goals of sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient food systems.
Keywords: Zinc oxide nanoparticles, Green synthesis, Indigenous Medicinal Plants, IoT agriculture, Organic farming, antibacterial bioinputs, sustainable input management
Received: 12 Jul 2025; Accepted: 18 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kanade`. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Tarun Madan Kanade`, tarun.kanade@siom.in
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