Bio-Nanoparticle-Induced Self-Defense in Arabidopsis thaliana: Molecular Insights into Resistance Gene Activation Under Smart Industrial Stimuli.

Nanobiotechnology offers sustainable strategies to enhance plant resistance by activating innate immune responses. This study evaluates the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on transcriptional activation of defense-associated genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. CNPs were produced via ionic gelation and sprayed on leaves of 4-week-old plants. Relative expression levels of PR1, PDF1.2, and WRKY70 were measured using qRT-PCR and the 2^-ΔΔCt method with normalization and statistical analysis. CNP treatment significantly increased PR1, PDF1.2, and WRKY70 expression compared to controls, indicating activation of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling pathways. WRKY70 showed the highest induction, suggesting a major regulatory role in coordinating defense signaling. Chitosan nanoparticles act as effective inducers of transcriptional activation of plant defense markers in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mechanisms including ROS signaling, calcium influx, MAPK cascades, and PTI/ETI responses warrant further investigation.