Engineered Core-Shell Cu Particles Demonstrate Strong Potential For Plant Disease Control

Keywords

Antimicrobial; Citrus canker; Copper; Core-shell; Silica gel; Silica particle

Abstract

Copper (Cu) bactericides/fongicides are used extensively for crop protection in agriculture, leading to accumulation and antimicrobial resistance. Increasing Cu bioavailability can reduce the amount required for crop protection. We have developed Core-Shell-Cu particles (CS-CuPs) containing an inert silica core coated with a Cu silica shell. Electron microscopy results confirmed the formation of spherical sub-micron size particles. Field efficacy of CS-CuPs was evaluated by assessing its ability to protect citrus trees from canker infection. Analysis of 2014 citrus canker infection on "Ray-Ruby" grapefruit showed a 62.8% incidence of fruit lesions on untreated trees while commercial copper hydroxide reduced incidence to 16.4% at a rate of 1.0 kg metallic Cu/hectare. The CS-CuPs reduced canker incidence to 15.6 % at 0.22 kg metallic Cu/hectare. Maintenance of efficacy at a significantly lower metallic Cu rate (about 4.5 times) clearly demonstrates the potential of CS-CuPs for successful use as an agricultural bactericide/fimgicide.

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication Title

Advanced Materials - TechConnect Briefs 2017

Volume

3

Number of Pages

8-11

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

85029361969 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85029361969

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