Abstract

Ten to sixteen percent of the world food production lost was related to crop diseases. Copper-based antimicrobial products have been applied for crop disease treatment for centuries. However, this extensive application of Copper (Cu) in the agricultural field has caused several issues. For instance, the development of Cu-resistance for certain plant pathogen strains and plant tissue damage (phytotoxicity). Therefore, many areas around the world have issued documents about gradually reduce the maximum Cu application rate in the field. Herein, my dissertation highlights the potential solutions to minimize the usage of Cu in the agriculture field by applying magnesium-based materials. Under this general theme, Chapter 1 provides background information about the significance of Cu-based antimicrobial products against plant diseases and its limitations for the future sustainable agricultural industry. Chapter 2 reports the comprehensive studies of preparing Mg(OH)2 NPs (Magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles) as a potential Cu alternative to reduce the Cu application in the field. Chapter 3 explores the partial substitution of Cu to Mg(OH)2 and its enhanced antimicrobial activity against selected plant pathogens. Overall, this dissertation focuses on finding Cu-alternatives and enhance Cu antimicrobial efficacy as two potential ways to reduce the amount of Cu apply to the agricultural field.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2020

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Santra, Swadeshmukul

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Degree Program

Chemistry

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008181; DP0023535

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023535

Language

English

Release Date

August 2025

Length of Campus-only Access

5 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Campus-only Access)

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Restricted to the UCF community until August 2025; it will then be open access.

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