Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can promote the solubility and absorption of pesticides by plants and are widely used as a delivery system to improve the efficacy of pesticide applications. In this study, MSNs with 20 nm particle size were produced. Additionally, a water-soluble chitosan (CS) derivative, here called N-(2-Hydroxyl) propyl-3- tri-methyl-ammonium CS chloride (HTCC) was produced and used to cap the outer surface of the MSNs preloaded with the pesticide fludioxonil (Flu). The HTCC coating layers resulted in a pesticide loading efficiency of 84% on the MSNs in comparison to a loading efficiency of 20% of uncoated particles. A comparative in vitro analysis indicated that Flu@MSNs20nm-HTCC loaded with a 0.05 mg/L dose of fungicide had significant higher fungicidal activity than the same fungicide at 1 mg/L dose against F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL). Moreover, after an initial burst, MSNs20nm-HTCC kept releasing Flu for 21 d, compared to an activity of 7 d associated with the direct release of Flu. Greenhouse data showed that 0.1 mg/L Flu applied through MSNs20nm-HTCC is sufficient to reduce Fusarium crown and root rot disease severity to a value of less than 6% in tomato plants, without any noticeable phytotoxicity after 70 d. In comparison, 1.56 mL/L of the fungicide are required to reach a 27% disease severity level. Thus, we suggest that HTCC-decorated MSNs20nm has a great potential as a nanodelivery systems for agrochemical applications. We also suggest that this work contributes to the notion that agro-nanotechnology is a powerful, environmentally-safe and cost-effective approach for a sustainable and long term protection of plants from disease.
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