Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Plant Photodynamic Seed Sterilization

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Seed-borne pathogens pose significant threats to plant health, agricultural productivity, and public health.
• Current methods for seed sterilization, including chemical microbicides and physical treatments, face challenges related to misuse and environmental impact.
• There is a need for innovative, effective, and safer methods for eradicating pathogens from seeds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel class of cationic amphiphilic aggregate-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) as photodynamic seed sterilization agents.
• To investigate the mechanism of AIEgens in selectively targeting and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms on seed surfaces.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of AIEgens in sterilizing seeds contaminated with common plant and animal pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of cationic amphiphilic aggregate-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens).
• Engineering AIEgens for specific binding to pathogenic microorganisms on seed surfaces.
• Application of photodynamic therapy, activating AIEgens with light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• Sterilization experiments using tomato seeds infected with *Pseudomonas syringae* and mung bean seeds infected with *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*.

Main Results:

• AIEgens were successfully engineered to bind specifically to pathogenic microorganisms on seed surfaces.
• Photodynamic activation of AIEgens generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) that selectively destroyed pathogens.
• Sterilization experiments demonstrated the effective elimination of *Pseudomonas syringae* and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* from tomato and mung bean seeds, respectively.
• AIEgens proved effective against both plant and animal pathogens transmitted via seeds.

Conclusions:

• Cationic amphiphilic aggregate-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) represent a promising new strategy for photodynamic seed sterilization.
• AIEgens offer a targeted and effective method for eliminating seed-borne pathogens, mitigating risks to agriculture and public health.
• This approach provides a sustainable alternative to conventional microbicides, addressing concerns about their misuse and environmental impact.