Sunlight-sensitive carbon dots for plant immunity priming and pathogen defence

IF 10.1 1区 生物学 Q1 BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY Plant Biotechnology Journal Pub Date : 2025-03-16 DOI:10.1111/pbi.70050
Erfeng Kou, Zhongxu Luo, Jingyi Ye, Xu Chen, Dan Lu, Markita P. Landry, Honglu Zhang, Huan Zhang
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Global food production faces persistent threats from environmental challenges and pathogenic attacks, leading to significant yield losses. Conventional strategies to combat pathogens, such as fungicides and disease-resistant breeding, are limited by environmental contamination and emergence of pathogen resistance. Herein, we engineered sunlight-sensitive and biodegradable carbon dots (CDs) capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), offering a novel and sustainable approach for plant protection. Our study demonstrates that CDs function as dual-purpose materials: priming plant immune responses and serving as broad-spectrum antifungal agents. Foliar application of CDs generated ROS under light, and the ROS could damage the plant cell wall and trigger cell wall-mediated immunity. Immune activation enhanced plant resistance against pathogens without compromising photosynthetic efficiency or yield. Specifically, spray treatment with CDs at 240 mg/L (2 mL per plant) reduced the incidence of grey mould in N. benthamiana and tomato leaves by 44% and 12%, respectively, and late blight in tomato leaves by 31%. Moreover, CDs (480 mg/L, 1 mL) combined with continuous sunlight irradiation (simulated by xenon lamp, 9.4 × 105 lux) showed a broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The inhibition ratios for mycelium growth were 66.5% for P. capsici, 8% for S. sclerotiorum and 100% for B. cinerea, respectively. Mechanistic studies revealed that CDs effectively inhibited mycelium growth by damaging hyphae and spore structures, thereby disrupting the propagation and vitality of pathogens. These findings suggest that CDs offer a promising, eco-friendly strategy for sustainable crop protection, with potential for practical agricultural applications that maintain crop yields and minimize environmental impact.
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来源期刊
Plant Biotechnology Journal
Plant Biotechnology Journal 生物-生物工程与应用微生物
CiteScore
20.50
自引率
2.90%
发文量
201
审稿时长
1 months
期刊介绍: Plant Biotechnology Journal aspires to publish original research and insightful reviews of high impact, authored by prominent researchers in applied plant science. The journal places a special emphasis on molecular plant sciences and their practical applications through plant biotechnology. Our goal is to establish a platform for showcasing significant advances in the field, encompassing curiosity-driven studies with potential applications, strategic research in plant biotechnology, scientific analysis of crucial issues for the beneficial utilization of plant sciences, and assessments of the performance of plant biotechnology products in practical applications.
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