Bidirectional Uptake, Transfer, and Transport of Dextran‐Based Nanoparticles in Plants for Multidimensional Enhancement of Pesticide Utilization

Abstract

The development of effective multifunctional nano‐delivery approaches for pesticide absorption remains a challenge. Here, a dextran‐based pesticide delivery system (MBD) is constructed to deliver tebuconazole for multidimensionally enhancing its effective utilization on tomato plants. Spherical MBD nanoparticles are obtained through two‐step esterification of dextran, followed by tebuconazole loading using the Michael addition reaction. Confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled MBD nanoparticles can be bidirectionally transported in tomato plants and a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe‐HPLC approach demonstrates the capacity to carry tebuconazole to plant tissues after 24 h of root uptake and foliar spray, respectively. Additionally, MBD nanoparticles could increase the retention of tebuconazole on tomato leaves by up to nearly 2.1 times compared with the tebuconazole technical material by measuring the tebuconazole content retained on the leaves. In vitro antifungal and pot experiments show that MBD nanoparticles improve the inhibitory effect of tebuconazole against botrytis cinerea by 58.4% and the protection against tomato gray molds by 74.9% compared with commercial suspensions. Furthermore, the MBD nanoparticles do not affect the healthy growth of tomato plants. These results underline the potential for the delivery system to provide a strategy for multidimensional enhancement of pesticide efficacy.

Pectin-Coated Iron-Based Metal–Organic Framework Nanoparticles for Enhanced Foliar Adhesion and Targeted Delivery of Fungicides

“…showed that dextran NPs were mainly transported by vascular bundles in tomato, which is similar to the findings of our study. 50 These results suggested that the TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs were capable of bidirectional transport within the rice plants and could be absorbed by the rice plants efficiently and transported to other sites within 48 h, either when applied to the roots or leaves. In conclusion, the TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs were mainly transported upward from the roots through the xylem and phloem of the vascular system.…”

“…In addition to the foliar attachment capacity, the ability of the plant to take up the pesticide and translocate it to the target site directly determines the effectiveness of root or foliar application, depending on the pesticide characteristics, type and scale of the carrier, plant species and growth conditions, and environmental factors. 50 To determine the uptake and translocation of TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs in rice, rice plants were treated with FITC-labeled TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs and observed under a confocal microscope. Hydroponics confirmed that the TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs were transferred to rice stems and leaves via the roots, and leaf treatment confirmed that the TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs were transferred to the rice stems and roots.…”

“…The root tip is an important organ for iron uptake in rice, and aggregation of the NPs at the root tip may contribute to growth of the rice root tip. Xiong et al showed that dextran NPs were mainly transported by vascular bundles in tomato, which is similar to the findings of our study . These results suggested that the TF@Fe-MOF-PT NPs were capable of bidirectional transport within the rice plants and could be absorbed by the rice plants efficiently and transported to other sites within 48 h, either when applied to the roots or leaves.…”