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Agronomy
Special Issues
Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture
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Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4208

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Soledad García-Morales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biotecnología Vegetal, CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C., Camino Arenero 1227, El Bajío, Zapopan 45019, Mexico
Interests: green nanoparticles synthesis; selenium nanoparticles; biostimulant properties; antifungal activity
Dr. Rebeca G. Betancourt-Galindo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigacion en Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo, Saltillo, Mexico
Interests: metallic nanoparticles; polymeric nanocomposites; plant protection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since nanomaterials have different physical and chemical properties than macroscopic materials, the development of nanomaterials and related technologies represents a new avenue for creating smart nanopesticides. Nanomaterials consist of at least one dimension in the 1-100 nm range. Nanomaterials exhibit unique surface properties, smaller size, high penetration ability, the ability to cross different cellular barriers, and the ability to adhere to the surface of aqueous solutions for long periods.

Fertilizers and pesticides are the agrochemicals most commonly used in agricultural production systems; thus, the incursion of nanotechnology in agriculture was applied to these agrochemicals. In particular, pesticides play a crucial role in the defense of plants against pest and disease threats, enhancing crop productivity.

The delivery of nano-agrochemicals has vast potential to improve the efficiency of agricultural inputs, reduce environmental pollution, and lower labor costs, contributing to the sustainability of agricultural production systems.

In this Special Issue, reviews and original articles are expected to delve deeper into the topic nanopesticides to increase penetration, coverage, and absorption of the active ingredient at the application site, including all nanomaterials with nanotechnological applications in agriculture.

  • Nanomaterials with antibacterial, antifungal, or insecticidal activity;
  • Controlled-release nanomaterials;
  • Nanomaterials to improve the stability of active ingredients;
  • Nanomaterials with pheromone application;
  • Nanomaterial-mediated nucleic acid pesticides;
  • Risks associated with nanomaterials as nanopesticides.

Dr. Soledad García-Morales
Dr. Rebeca G. Betancourt-Galindo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nano-agrochemicals
  • nanopesticides
  • nano-protect

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
Rhamnolipid-Stabilized Essential Oils Nanoemulsions: Sustainable Biopesticides and Biostimulants with Potential for Crop Protection
by Lucille T. Kourdova, Milagro Mottola, Micaela Peppino Margutti, María Florencia Bogino, Paula Maritano, Raquel Viviana Vico, Francisca Blanco-Herrera, María Laura Fanani and Georgina Fabro
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040824 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 358
Abstract
The search for environmentally friendly solutions to effectively control crop pests while safeguarding human health has become a global priority. One promising strategy is to enhance plant defenses by pre-inducing their innate immune system. In this study, we developed rhamnolipid (RL)-stabilized nanoemulsions (NEs) [...] Read more.
The search for environmentally friendly solutions to effectively control crop pests while safeguarding human health has become a global priority. One promising strategy is to enhance plant defenses by pre-inducing their innate immune system. In this study, we developed rhamnolipid (RL)-stabilized nanoemulsions (NEs) encapsulating essential oils (EOs) as potential biopesticides and biostimulants for agroindustrial applications. These NEs were designed to improve the solubility and stability of EOs while effectively combining their insecticidal and/or repellent activities with the bioactive properties of RLs. In this regard, our interdisciplinary approach involved formulating and characterizing these NEs and evaluating their stability and wettability on plant leaf surfaces. We further evaluated their effects on bacterial growth in vitro and in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, along with their impact on beneficial soil microorganisms. We analyzed their ability to stimulate the plant’s immune system and their impact on the viability and reproduction of the aphid Myzus persicae. Additionally, we explored whether RLs stimulate plant defenses through alterations in the leaf cuticle. Our findings demonstrate that RL-stabilized EO-NEs are effective bioprotectants and biostimulants in the model plant, offering a sustainable alternative that could reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture)
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18 pages, 6461 KiB  
Article
Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) Inhibit the Growth and Proliferation of Reproductive Structures in Phytophthora capsici by Altering Cell Membrane Stability
by Andrés de Jesús López-Gervacio, Joaquín Alejandro Qui-Zapata, Iliana Barrera-Martínez, Mayra Itzcalotzin Montero-Cortés and Soledad García-Morales
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020490 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 459
Abstract
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are currently receiving attention for controlling plant pathogenic microorganisms, are expected to be especially effective against the genus Phytophthora, and show high anti-oomycete activity. SeNPs synthesized with plant extracts have shown low toxicity, high bioavailability, and mechanisms of action that [...] Read more.
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are currently receiving attention for controlling plant pathogenic microorganisms, are expected to be especially effective against the genus Phytophthora, and show high anti-oomycete activity. SeNPs synthesized with plant extracts have shown low toxicity, high bioavailability, and mechanisms of action that alter cellular integrity and damage key components of phytopathogen metabolism, causing denaturation and cell death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of SeNPs on mycelial growth and the development of reproductive structures in Phytophthora capsici in vitro. Different concentrations of SeNPs (0 to 400 µg/mL) in culture media were used to analyze mycelial growth, sporangium formation, zoospores, and germination of the germ tube. To explain the changes in morphology and development of P. capsici, increased relative conductance and activation of glycerol synthesis were related to osmotic stress and damage to membrane permeability. In addition, SeNPs inhibited the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which are compounds associated with pathogen virulence. A lower accumulation of its biomass evidences alterations in the oomycete growth. The percentage of inhibition of mycelial growth increased with higher SeNP concentrations and incubation time, reaching 100% growth inhibition at 300 and 400 µg/mL. A concentration-dependent reduction in the number of spores, sporangia, and zoospore germination was observed. Concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/mL of SeNPs reduced biomass production by 30%. The increase in glycerol levels indicated an osmoregulatory response to SeNP-induced stress. Also, the increase in electrical conductivity suggested plasma membrane damage, which supports the potential of SeNPs as antifungal agents by inducing cell disruption and structural damage in P. capsici. These results provide new knowledge on the in vitro mechanism of action of SeNPs against P. capsici and offer a new biological alternative for the control of diseases caused by oomycetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture)
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15 pages, 3938 KiB  
Article
Silver Nanoparticles Reduce Anthracnose Severity and Promote Growth of Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris)
by Alessandro A. dos Santos, Mateus B. de Freitas, Cesar F. Ribeiro, Alex Sandro Poltronieri and Marciel J. Stadnik
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2806; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122806 - 26 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1127
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the development of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the progression of anthracnose symptoms, and the growth of common bean plants. For this purpose, the fungal mycelial growth and conidial germination were assessed [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the development of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the progression of anthracnose symptoms, and the growth of common bean plants. For this purpose, the fungal mycelial growth and conidial germination were assessed at AgNP concentrations of 0, 10, 30, and 50 mg·L−1 after seven days of incubation, as well as at 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 10, 30, and 50 mg·L−1 after 72 h, respectively. Bean plants of the IPR Uirapuru cultivar were sprayed at the V3 growth stage with AgNPs at 0, 10, 30, or 50 mg·L−1, either two days before, on the day of, or two days after inoculation. Conidial germination and appressoria melanization were measured on the leaf discs collected 24, 48, and 72 h after inoculation, and disease severity was assessed at 7 and 12 days post-inoculation. Another set of bean plants grown under the same conditions was used to evaluate growth promotion by AgNPs. For this, the plants were sprayed twice (with a seven-day interval), starting at the V3 growth stage, with AgNPs at 0, 10, 30, or 50 mg·L−1. Seven days after the second treatment, plant length and the fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots were measured, and the foliar pigments were quantified. The AgNPs did not reduce mycelial growth but completely inhibited the germination of C. lindemuthianum conidia. The severity of anthracnose decreased with the AgNPs in a dose- and application time-dependent manner, with the highest reduction (90%) observed when applied on the same day as an inoculation at 50 mg·L−1. This was strongly linked to a 70% decline in conidia germination and appressorium melanization on bean leaves. AgNPs at 50 mg·L−1 promoted plant growth by increasing the total length by 3%, as well as the fresh weights of bean shoots and roots by 17% and 90%, respectively, but did not affect the content of leaf pigments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture)
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18 pages, 848 KiB  
Article
Use of Essential Oils and α-Pinene as Insecticides against Sitophilus zeamais and Their Effects on Maize Seed Germination
by Rodrigo de Carvalho Brito, Luiz Evaldo de Moura Pádua, Leticia Rodrigues da Silva, Marcus Eugênio Oliveira Briozo, Paulo Roberto Ramalho Silva, Luzineide Fernandes de Carvalho, Kamilla de Andrade Dutra, Daniela Maria do Amaral Ferraz Navarro, Douglas Rafael e Silva Barbosa, Mariano Oscar Aníbal Ibañez Rojas, Giovana Lopes da Silva, Mariana Oliveira Breda, Gutierres Nelson Silva, Tadeu Barbosa Martins Silva, Erlen Keila Candido e Silva and Solange Maria de França
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2282; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102282 - 4 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1537
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the use of α-pinene and essential oils of Gaultheria procumbens, Juniperus communis, Protium heptaphyllum, and Protium pallidum in treating corn seeds (Zea mays) under storage conditions for the management of [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the use of α-pinene and essential oils of Gaultheria procumbens, Juniperus communis, Protium heptaphyllum, and Protium pallidum in treating corn seeds (Zea mays) under storage conditions for the management of Sitophilus zeamais. Contact toxicity, fumigation, repellency, persistence, and residual effects of the targeted essential oil and phytocompound on germination were performed. G. procumbens oil, high in methyl salicylate (96%), was the most toxic in contact tests, with an LC50 of 26.83 µL/20 g. P. heptaphyllum oil, containing 40.1% limonene, was the second most toxic with an LC50 of 45.78 μL/20 g. When test separately, α-pinene was more toxic than J. communis oil, which has 67% α-pinene. P. pallidum oil, with 31.17% o-cimene, also showed toxicity. In fumigation tests, the toxicity order was G. procumbens ≥ P. heptaphyllum > α-pinene > J. communis > P. pallidum. All products were repellent. G. procumbens had the longest persistence (71 days), while J. communis and α-pinene had shorter persistence. J. communis oil and α-pinene did not affect corn seed germination or vigor. The findings are crucial for managing S. zeamais in stored maize and determining the appropriate use of natural insecticides without affecting their ability to germinate and grow. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Diseases and Pest Control in Agriculture)
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