Mechanisms of Nanoparticle-Mediated Cold Stress Tolerance in Rice

Cold stress (CS) is a major abiotic factor limiting rice ( Oryza sativa L.) productivity and threatening global food security. Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a promising strategy to enhance crop resilience to low temperatures. This review synthesizes recent advances in nanoparticle (NP)-based approaches for improving CS tolerance in rice, highlighting their roles in modulating antioxidant defenses, phytohormone balance, photosynthesis, and cold-responsive gene expression. We integrate insights from rice CS signaling and NP uptake, translocation, and accumulation, providing a mechanistic perspective on how NPs mitigate cold-induced injuries. We also address potential NP toxicity and its implications for plant fitness. Compared to previous reviews, this work uniquely emphasizes the interplay between NP-mediated interventions and cold stress biology, identifies critical gaps such as long-term NP fate and cultivar-specific responses, and outlines future directions for sustainable application of nanotechnology in rice CS management.