A temperature-responsive selenium nanohydrogel for strawberry grey mould management

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea, significantly damages various crops.
• Existing treatments often lack targeted delivery and can harm plants.
• Need for innovative solutions to combat fungal diseases and preserve produce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a temperature-responsive nanogel for controlled release of iprodione (Ipr).
• To evaluate the efficacy of the nanogel against Botrytis cinerea.
• To assess the nanogel's impact on plant health and fruit preservation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized iprodione-loaded mesoporous selenium nanoparticles (MSe NPs) combined with low-melting agarose (LA).
• Developed a temperature-responsive nanogel (Ipr@MSe@LA NPs) for targeted delivery.
• Conducted plate-based antibacterial tests and measured plant photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm).

Main Results:

• Ipr@MSe@LA NPs significantly reduced Botrytis cinerea colony area (4.27 cm⁻²) compared to controls (25 cm⁻²).
• Enhanced plant photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm > 0.8) and promoted plant growth.
• Prolonged strawberry storage time, preserving freshness and extending shelf life.

Conclusions:

• Ipr@MSe@LA NPs demonstrate superior control of strawberry grey mould.
• The nanogel formulation offers good biocompatibility and promotes plant health.
• This intelligent pesticide delivery system shows promise for agricultural applications and food preservation.