Keywords

Nanotechnology, agriculture, sustainability, targeted delivery, synergistic, antimicrobial

Abstract

By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, prompting a projected surge in food demand ranging from 30 to 62 percent. To avert hunger and meet food demand, the United Nations established "Zero Hunger" as part of their sustainable goals. To accomplish this endeavor, it is anticipated that sustainably increasing crop yield and optimizing current agricultural practices are crucial. There is a need for developing advanced crop protection methods given that more than a fourth of crops are lost to pests and pathogens. In recent years, nanotechnology has been utilized to increase the effectiveness of active ingredients, reduce the environmental impact of pesticides, and improve crop yield. Initial work in the field focused on early transition metal oxides, leaving most other nutrients and their combinations unexplored. In this work, Bz, a Boron-Zinc multi-nutrient nanosystem was rationally designed to target the stomata and epidermal cell junctions. This novel formulation was utilized to target the delivery of oxytetracycline (OTC) to improve the antibiotic’s efficacy. The interaction between the agrochemicals was thoroughly studied and evaluated. Furthermore, this combination was evaluated for synergic/antagonistic activity and delivery of oxytetracycline on peach leaves. Additionally, the tank-mix of a Magnesium Hydroxide (MgSol) and Sodium Polysulfide (NaPs) was studied to understand how nanotechnology can be used in tandem with already registered active ingredients. The antimicrobial potency at different concentration ratios of these components was assessed using the checkerboard assay. To understand its properties, the effect of MgSol on the reactivity of NaPs was tested using a colorimetric radical scavenging assay. Subsequently, the physicochemical changes these formulations undergo when suspended in water were correlated with their biological effects on bacteria and plants. Overall, the findings presented in this work demonstrate that multi-nutrient nanoparticle systems exhibit unique properties that can improve crop health management.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Santra, Swadeshmukul

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Department of Chemistry

Degree Program

Chemistry

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

DP0028867

URL

https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1350&context=etd2023

Language

English

Rights

In copyright

Release Date

2-15-2028

Length of Campus-only Access

3 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Campus-only Access)

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Accessibility Status

Meets minimum standards for ETDs/HUTs

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Restricted to the UCF community until 2-15-2028; it will then be open access.

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