ACS agricultural science & technology最新文献

Nanopesticides have emerged as a highly promising approach for plant protection. Importantly, their preparation process plays a crucial role in determining their particle characteristics and impacting crop protection efficacy. Unfortunately, current nanopesticides exhibit predominantly large size distributions and uncontrollable morphologies, leading to unpredictable protection efficacy. Microfluidics allows one to manipulate fluids in microchannels with precise controllability. Herein, we employed microfluidic technology to systematically investigate key preparation parameters and prepared the zein-loaded lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) (LC@Zein) nanopesticides successfully. The produced LC@Zein exhibited size controllability, high uniformity, excellent storage stability, and sustained release. Importantly, the insecticidal activity of LC@Zein against Spodoptera exigua was demonstrated to be higher than that of two commercial formulations, microemulsion and emulsion in water. Moreover, LC@Zein exhibited higher biological safety compared to the two commercial formulations in earthworm acute toxicity and rabbit acute eye irritation tests, suggesting its excellent eco-friendly properties and contributing to green agriculture development.

While biopolymers have the potential to enhance agrochemical delivery and mitigate environmental impacts such as runoff, previous plant studies have often been limited to examining single biopolymers in isolation. This approach has hindered effective comparisons of plant outcomes due to variations in plant type, growth duration, and soil characteristics. The current study addresses this gap by incorporating six separate milled biopolymers: pectin, starch, chitosan, polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), or polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) into soil and directly comparing their impacts on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants cultivated under identical environmental parameters. Plant outcomes were also studied when biopolymers were modified via the inclusion of two phosphorus (P) salts, forming two types of Polymer-P-containing salt composites with amorphous CaPO₄ (CaP) and CaHPO₄ (DCP). Our results revealed that chitosan-based treatments significantly improved tomato root and shoot biomass, with increases of 200–300% compared to the control plants. Chitosan-CaP and Chitosan-DCP also enhanced P uptake, though the effect was significantly more pronounced in the former, suggesting a synergy between chitosan and CaP. Neither Chitosan-P-containing salt treatment, however, mitigated P leaching from soil when compared to CaP or DCP applied in isolation. The two most hydrophilic biopolymers, pectin and starch, as well as their P-salt-containing counterparts, showed the most substantial reductions in biomass (∼80%) with respect to control plants, while similarly lowering P uptake and P retention in soil compared to CaP- and DCP-only plants. PCL- and PHB-based treatments also adversely influenced biomass and plant P, though these effects were not as drastic as those observed with pectin and starch. PLA-based soil amendments had no effect on any plant performance metric, though PLA-CaP, specifically, was the only treatment to appreciably mitigate P leaching (−63%). Based on these findings, subsequent tomato growth experiments were conducted over a longer 8-week period with CaP, DCP, Chitosan, Chitosan-CaP, and Chitosan-DCP. While all chitosan-treated plants showed similar enhancements in biomass, plants treated with Chitosan-CaP and Chitosan-DCP were the only ones to fruit, demonstrating the benefit of using chitosan in conjunction with a P source as compared to either treatment in isolation. These findings contribute to an expanding body of evidence that biopolymer carriers can offer a more sustainable approach to improving the precision of nutrient delivery, while also highlighting the pivotal role of biopolymer and nutrient type in the development of these carriers.

Neonicotinoid insecticides face a number of challenges in improving the efficacy and mitigating resistance in Bemisia tabaci. The zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has attracted much attention in the field of nanopesticide preparation and controlled release due to its simple preparation. However, monometallic ZIFs have a simple structure and low loading capacity. To solve this problem, we doped Fe into ZIF-L and successfully synthesized a cross-stacked bimetallic ZIF nanocarrier, which can effectively load and release dinotefuran (DNF). Subsequent preparation of Zn-Fe-ZIF@DNF@MPN after encapsulation using metal–phenolic networks (MPNs) increased the DNF loading to 23.74% and achieved >99% release within 24 h. Zn-Fe-ZIF@DNF@MPN has greater resistance to UV light, retention on vegetable leaves, and resistance to rainwater washout. Dynamic residue analysis confirmed its effectiveness and persistence. In addition, it achieved 86.95% mortality against Bemisia tabaci without inhibiting cabbage seed germination. This work is of strategic importance for the development of a functional and environmentally friendly smart nanopesticide.

Securing global food supplies requires the use of fertilizers to sustain crop production. Current agricultural practices rely on the excessive use of phosphorus (P) fertilizers, which, unfortunately, have been implicated in surface and groundwater contamination due to their high solubility in water. This study aimed to develop a nanoenabled polymeric coating technology for pristine rock phosphate (RP) mineral. A chitosan gel matrix with tannic acid, citric acid, and nanosulfur (CTS) was designed to harness the chelating properties of organic acids and the abrasion resistance of sulfur to generate slow-release RP fertilizers. Furthermore, kinetic studies were conducted to provide insights into the surface interactions of the coatings and RP and the kinetics of phosphate desorption from the coated RP. The CTS-coated RP exhibited nonphytotoxicity, reduced P leaching, and increased plant height, plant biomass, and yield compared to a commercial P fertilizer. Loss of P from soil was reduced by 71% in CTS-coated RP treatment compared to the commercial P fertilizer application. In addition, there was a 12% enhancement in soil postharvest cation exchange capacity, corroborating the impact of the coating on the dissolution of cationic nutrients present in RP. The release kinetics elucidated a pseudo-first-order desorption process driving the available P release mechanism with a Pearson R correlation value of 0.983. Altogether, this study demonstrated the suitability of nanoenabled coating technology to develop an alternative for P fertilizers with improved P use efficiency, with benefits in sustainable crop production and reduced environmental impact.

The widespread use of tris(1,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCPP), a phosphorus flame retardant, has raised significant environmental concerns because of its persistence and toxicity. This study examines the photodegradation of TDCPP (0.25 mg/L) using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (P25 NPs) (50 mg/L) under UV irradiation, focusing on the effects of electrolytes, such as NaCl and NaBr, pH, and temperature. TiO₂ NPs degraded TDCPP within 60 min, achieving nearly complete mineralization and release of chloride ions (Cl−). The degradation rate decreased with higher initial TDCPP concentrations but increased with higher TiO₂ dosages. Acidic conditions enhanced photodegradation, while the presence of electrolytes caused nanoparticle aggregation, increasing the particle size and reducing the photocatalytic efficiency. Chloride (Cl−) and bromide ions (Br−) acted as radical scavengers, inhibiting the formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals (HO•). Notably, 89% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was eliminated from TDCPP after 60 min of UV illumination, indicating mineralization into carbon dioxide and water. The degradation intermediates were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), and two byproducts were identified after 10 min of treatment. Acute and chronic toxicity analyses revealed that TDCPP’s intermediates were nontoxic. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide insights into electronic structures and degradation pathways. This research contributes to strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of hazardous flame retardants such as TDCPP.

Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a devastating disease that inflicts significant global damage annually. To combat this disease, chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were combined with the fungicide cyproconazole (CYP) and applied as a foliar spray 24 h postinoculation (hpi) with fungal urediniospores. Plant samples were analyzed to assess fungal progression by examining pustule formation and quantifying fungal DNA content in leaf tissues. Treatment with CNPs and the cyproconazole-chitosan nanocomposite (C-CYP) resulted in significantly smaller pustules or their absence and reduced fungal DNA levels compared to controls. Additionally, enzyme assays revealed that the activities of peroxidase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase significantly increased 24 h post-treatment with CNPs compared to controls. Furthermore, transcription levels of WAK-2, NPR-1, and Chitinase genes were notably upregulated in plants treated with CNPs and C-CYP at 24 h post-treatment. These findings suggest that the combination of chitosan nanoparticles and cyproconazole not only effectively controls wheat stem rust but also reduces environmental hazards by requiring lower chemical dosages.

This work aimed to investigate using ATR–FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning to classify eight apricot varieties. Traditionally, variety identification relies on physicochemical property measurements, which are time-consuming and require laboratory analysis. Instead, we used the ATR–FTIR spectra from 731 apricots divided into calibration (512) and test (219) sets and three machine learning models (i.e., partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF)) to accurately predict 97% of the test samples. Additionally, careful inspection of the PLS-DA regression vectors revealed a strong correlation between the spectra and biochemical composition in sugar and organic acids, validating ATR–FTIR spectroscopy as a viable alternative for variety identification. Finally, to validate the results, additional models were constructed using the physicochemical data from the apricots. These reference models were then tested using the same data splits as the spectroscopic data used as a reference method, obtaining similar results with both approaches.

Both plants and microbes share a vital relationship. Microbes are strong drivers of plant adaptation and evolution, as they impact plant growth, facilitate nutrient cycling, and influence susceptibility or tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Similarly, plants also influence microbial colonization and help establish microbial consortia in the rhizosphere through exuded metabolites and molecular signals. These plant–microbe relationships have a significant role in agriculture and soil health, but understanding them is difficult because of the complexity and variability of the rhizosphere. However, recent omics developments offer new opportunities to delve deeper into these complex communities. This review focuses on integrating multiomics methods and stable isotopes to gain a better idea of how plants and microbes interact, which will help in the better utilization of beneficial interactions for plant growth and productivity.

Colobanthus quitensis, one of only two native angiosperms in Antarctica, produces C-glycosyl flavones with antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea. In this study, the exogenous application of the elicitors salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), pimelic acid (PA), suberic acid (SuA), and azelaic acid (AzA) was evaluated for its effect on the accumulation of bioactive metabolites in in vitro-cultivated plants. Exposure to these compounds significantly modulated the expression of key genes in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways, including pal, chs, chi, and fnsII, as well as regulatory genes such as myb12, bhlh, and wrky33, enhancing PAL activity and the accumulation of C-glycosyl flavones including schaftoside, neoschaftoside, saponarin, and swertiajaponin. This priming process improved the antifungal activity of the extracts, with SuA at 75 μM and MeJA at 50 μM were identified as the most effective treatments. The in vitro culture approach enabled the assessment of protected and hard-to-access species without the need for wild harvesting. These results suggest that the exogenous application of elicitors constitutes an efficient strategy to modulate the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites, with implications for the development of biocontrol agents and the improvement of efficiency in sustainable agricultural systems.

Chitin, a prevalent polysaccharide in fungal cell walls, insect exoskeletons, and crustacean shells, is traditionally extracted from crustacean shells. However, aligning with circular economy principles, there is growing interest in utilizing bioconverter insects like the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). We explored the potential of H. illucens pupal grown on discarded agro-industrial waste to obtain enriched chitosan sources for plant biostimulants and protectors. Chitin was extracted from the pupal exuviae, and the properties of bleached (ChB) and nonbleached (ChU) chitosan fractions were compared. Both fractions exhibited structural similarities to commercial chitosan, with ChU showing a superior antioxidant capacity. In hydroponic lettuce cultivation, ChU significantly increased the biomass and chlorophyll content, while ChB had no notable effect. Both ChU and ChB activated auxin signaling in a transgenic tomato model and exhibited fungicidal activity against Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii. These findings indicate that H. illucens pupal exuviae, cultivated on discarded agro-industrial waste, offer a valuable alternative for use as a plant biostimulant. This type of research forms the foundational basis for recognizing the potential of waste as a resource to innovate and create various products aligned with the circular economy strategy.