With the growing global population and the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture, improving seed germination quality has become an urgent task. Nanotechnology, particularly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), offers a promising approach to this issue. However, their long-term environmental impact and health risks require further evaluation.This review first explores the physicochemical properties of AgNPs and their effects on plant growth and seed development. Next, the review discusses the mechanisms by which AgNPs enhance seed resistance to pathogens, regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, activate key metabolic enzymes, induce metabolite accumulation, and modulate plant hormone levels. Additionally, the review explores how AgNPs influence seed gene expression, proteomic networks, and the germination microenvironment. Given the lack of field data on long-term low-dose exposure and challenges in monitoring morphological transformation, the review also evaluates the potential risks of AgNPs in agriculture. These risks include their accumulation in the food chain, environmental transformation, and long-term effects.The review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which AgNPs impact seed germination and plant growth, providing a theoretical basis for their cautious use in agricultural and horticultural practices, while considering their environmental fate and health risks.
Zheng et al. (2026) studied this question.