–
The need for substitute products is felt in agriculture at a time when more and more products are banned or considered dangerous for human and animal health.
KEYSTONE
Silica nanoparticles can act as a non-trace phytosanitary treatment, discovered researchers from the Adolphe Merkle Institute and the biology department of the University of Friborg. A degradable and very effective treatment against certain plant pathogens.
“One of the biggest challenges facing agriculture is the intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides,” the University of Friborg said on Tuesday. With a growing number of products that are banned or considered dangerous for human and animal health, the need for substitute products is felt.
One “promising” approach is to stimulate the plant’s own immune response to attack by pathogens. Silicic acid, naturally present in soil, is known to elicit such responses in plants, and amorphous silica nanoparticles can release the substance in small amounts.
These nanoparticles, naturally also present in food crops, such as cereals, are quite common. They are part of the food grade silica, called E551 on labels and used for decades in products like table salt, pills or protein powders.
Increased resistance
Friborg researchers have studied an environmentally friendly nano-agrochemical derivative capable of releasing active ingredients and stimulating plant defense. They synthesized silica nanoparticles with properties similar to those of plants, the press release said.
To test their effectiveness, the scientists applied the nanoparticles to Thales watercress. It is a widely used plant model infected with Pseudomonas syringae, another model organism.
The nanoparticles can build resistance against bacteria depending on the dose by stimulating the plant’s defense hormone, salicylic acid (which is also the active ingredient in aspirin), the results have proven. The interactions of nanoparticles with the leaves of the plant have also been studied.
The absorption and action of nanoparticles occurs exclusively through the pores of the leaves (stomata), which allow plants to breathe, the researchers showed. Nanoparticles do not circulate further in plants and degrade without leaving a trace in the presence of water, an important aspect for environmental and food safety.
Innovation
Compared to silicic acid, which is already used in crop protection, silica nanoparticles caused less stress on plants and other microorganisms in the soil due to the slow release of the active ingredient.
Scientists claim that their study, published in the journal “Nature Nanotechnology”, demonstrates that their silica nanoparticles could constitute an inexpensive, very effective, safe and sustainable alternative for the protection of plants against diseases.
Research could extend to a broader spectrum of plant pathogens, such as other bacteria, insects or viruses. Before any large-scale application of nanoparticles as nano-biostimulants and fertilizers, in-depth analysis is needed to assess the long-term effects on the environment, the scientists note, however.
ATS / NXP
Posted today at 10h26-
Related