Source abstract
Abstract
The growing global population necessitates substantial increases in food production. Hydroponic cultivation systems afford a critical alternative for food sustainability and enable stable annual production regardless of the climatic and geographical variations. However, the overgrowth of harmful algal blooms significantly threatens the crop yield by competing with nutrition in the solution and producing contaminants. The conventional practice of algaecides fails to control algal proliferation due to the limited efficiency and food safety concerns. Nanopesticides can deliver active ingredients responsively to suppress crop diseases and offer solutions to current practical challenges and difficulties. Inspired by prospects of nanotechnology for agricultural applications, we have utilized natural polyphenols and copper ions (Cu 2+ ions) to develop self-assembled nanoalgaecides referred to as CuBes. The nanoalgaecide attached to algal cells via phenolic surface interactions, enabling localized Cu 2+ ion release. This cell-targeted delivery suppressed Chlorella vulgaris for over 30 days (99% inhibition). Transcriptomics revealed that the nanoalgaecide disrupted algal metabolism by downregulating photosynthesis and chlorophyll pathways. In a solar-illuminated plant factory, the nanoalgaecide showed higher algal inhibition and lettuce biosafety versus the commercial Kocide 3000. Notably, the use of nanoalgaecide can enhance the nutrient value of lettuces, which meets the daily supply of Cu for adults. By integrating smart nanotechnology design with selective delivery mechanisms, this metal-phenolic nanoalgaecide provides a nanoenabled solution for controlling harmful algal blooms in hydroponics to advance food production.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Affiliations
BMI Center for Biomass Materials and Nanointerfaces, College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, People’s Republic of China
Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IUA-CAAS), Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, Sichuan 610213, People’s Republic of China
National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, People’s Republic of China
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, People’s Republic of China
Bioproducts Institute, Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T1Z4, Canada
Funding
Sichuan University · State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering · National Key Research and Development Program of China · Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences · Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Sichuan Province