Enhancing Agrichemical Delivery and Seedling Development with Biodegradable, Tunable, Biopolymer-Based Nanofiber Seed Coatings

Abstract

One of the challenges in agriculture consists of the inefficiencies in agrichemical delivery and utilization. Herein, a biodegradable, tunable, biopolymer-based nanoplatform was developed as seed coating to enhance agrichemical delivery and seedling development. The nanofibers are synthesized using electrospinning of biopolymer blends without any toxic chemicals or post-treatment and enable tunable agrichemical release by modulating the polymer composition and hydrophilicity of nanofibers. The germination and subsequent growth of different nanofiber-coated seeds (tomato and lettuce) as a function of agrichemical release kinetics were investigated in greenhouse studies, in the presence or absence of a fungal pathogen (Fusarium species). Results from the greenhouse studies indicate the efficacy of such nanoenabled seed coating approach due to the precise delivery of agrichemical at the right place while utilizing a miniscule amount of agrichemical. The various Cu-release nanofiber coatings appeared to promote seed germination, particularly in the diseased media conditions. This more rapid germination led to increased seedling biomass for both plants (12−29%) in the healthy media conditions. Such seed nanocoating approach might be used in pathogen infested soil conditions to increase production yields. The developed nanofiber seed coating approach brings precision to agrichemical delivery and significantly improves germination and seedling biomass for model seeds compared to conventional film coating approaches utilized by the industry, owing to its unique nanofibrous structure and controlled release kinetics.

Zinc-Doped Hydroxyapatite–Urea Nanoseed Coating as an Efficient Macro–Micro Plant Nutrient Delivery Agent

“…In this context, seed coatings come in handy as an alternative method not only to deliver plant nutrients at the seedling stage but also to provide protection for seeds against biotic stress and facilitate better storage conditions . The seedling stage is very critical in the plant development cycle as it lays the foundation for healthy plant growth. , Over the years, a colossal number of successful seed coating developments with the incorporation of many nutrients and hormones needed for plant growth , with improved properties like antimicrobial properties, herbicidal properties, etc., , have been reported. Recently, nanotechnology has also shed light on developing advanced seed coatings, leading to the effective delivery of agrochemicals at initial plant growth stages .…”

Sustainable Agriculture through Multidisciplinary Seed Nanopriming: Prospects of Opportunities and Challenges

“…Based on recent observations, it appears to be possible to use nanomaterials to deliver active ingredients at precise locations. Nanofiber seed coatings provide precise agrochemical delivery and significantly improve seedling germination and biomass in comparison to conventional film coating techniques used in the industry due to their nanofibrous structure and controlled release kinetics [ 76 ]. The effects of cinnamaldehyde encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNP) on seed borne diseases were studied by Bravo Cadena et al Based on the results of this study, it is clear that MSNP significantly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of plant products, which allows the use of volatile biocides such as essential oils at very low concentrations to prevent microbial diseases in crop plants [ 77 ].…”

Approaches in Animal Proteins and Natural Polysaccharides Application for Food Packaging: Edible Film Production and Quality Estimation

“…Biopolymers are widely implemented and can be used as coatings and films [ 4 , 22 ]. Coating involves the formation of a cover directly on the surface of food products, whereas films are structures that are used separately after formation [ 23 ].…”