The objective of the proposal is to develop a strategy for controlling fungal diseases in crop plants based on the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with agrochemicals. The effect of biopolymeric NPs on plant growth and metabolism will be investigated to ensure the phyto-safety of this innovative approach.
The proposal will focus on a highly remunerative fresh-market variety of tomato variety datterino F1 zucchero and on one of its fungal pathogen, i.e. Botrytis cinerea, causal agent of the grey mold disease chosen within a list of the most problematic microorganisms for the tomato agro-industry. The agrochemical fluopyram, specifically used to limit this pathogen, will be used as free or loaded in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) NPs.
A rapid screening (multiwell plate assays) will be settled for identifying the best performing size and amount of NPs and agrochemical to be used. The investigation will be performed on tomato plants under controlled conditions in detached leaves and potted plants. The influence of empty or fluopyram-loaded PLGA NPs and of free fluopyram on B. cinerea infected and not infected plants will be evaluated by morphological and phenomenological observations. Furthermore, the primary and secondary metabolism of tomato leaves will be investigated by NMR-based metabolomics and LC-MS-based lipidomics. The study will allow to identify the best option for controlling B. cinerea that will be sustainable for tomato (no phytotoxicity) whilst consistently reducing the amount of agrochemicals used.
