The Application of Carbon Dots in Crops for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural systems face numerous challenges, including the need for sustainable resources, enhanced crop productivity, and improved postharvest management. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as tunable luminescence range, biocompatibility, ease of synthesis, facile surface functionality, water solubility, and low toxicity, carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials for sustainable agriculture. These features enable their broad application throughout the agricultural life cycle, from promoting plant growth and development to enhancing the preservation and detection of agricultural products. CDs can be synthesized from a wide variety of organic waste, including crop residues, facilitating their reintegration into a closed‐loop agricultural system. Here, recent progress in the use of CDs in key stages of the crop growth cycle, including seed germination, vegetative development, and crop protection, is summarized. In addition, their role in postharvest preservation, antimicrobial activity, and safety assessment of agricultural commodities is discussed. Finally, current limitations and future directions for the application of CDs in sustainable agriculture are critically evaluated.