Responsive Polymers for Crop Protection

By S. Peteu, F. Oancea, O. Sicuia, F. Constantinescu, Sorina Dinu. 2010

100 citations recorded by the source corpus.

This review outlines the responsive polymer methods currently in use with their potential application to plant protection and puts forward plant-specific mechanisms as stimuli in newly devised methods for smart release of crop protection agents (CPAs). CPAs include chemicals (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides), biochemicals (antibiotics, RNA-based vaccines for plant viruses), semiochemicals (pheromones, repellents, allomones), microbial pesticides, growth regulators (insect and plant) or micronutrients, all with crop protection effects. This appraisal focuses on emerging uses of polymer nano-encapsulated CPAs. Firstly, the most interesting advances in controlled release methods are critically discussed with their advantages and drawbacks. Secondly, several plant-specific stimuli-based smart methods are anticipated for use alongside the polymer nano- or micro-capsules. These new CPA release methods are designed to (i) protect plants against infection produced by fungi or bacteria, and (ii) apply micro-nutrients when the plants need it the most. Thus, we foresee (i) the responsive release of nano- encapsulated bio-insecticides regulated by plant stress enzymes, and (ii) the delivery of micro-nutrients synchronized by the nature or intensity of plant root exudates. Such continued advances of nano-scale smart polymer-based CPAs for the protection of crops herald a “small revolution” for the benefit of sustainable agriculture.

Subfields: Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f8ef32821b503f0aee3cb4821664160264ad35d7

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Citations in the corpus

• Insecticides Development Of Safer And More Effective Technologies (2014, background): “iour in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) [229], nor did alter breeding behaviour in American robins (Turdus migratorius) [65], exposure to 256 mg/kg b.”
• Applications of Nanotechnology in Plant Growth and Crop Protection: A Review (2019, background): “In contrast, the supplementation of nanoformulated or nano entrapped micronutrients for the slow or controlled release of nutrients would stimulate the uptake process by plants, promote the growth and productivity of crops, and contribute to maintaining soil health as well [97].”
• Nanotechnology: The new perspective in precision agriculture (2017, background): “Nano formulations of micronutrients can be sprayed on plants or can be supplied to soil for uptake by roots to enhance soil health and vigor [79].”
• Perspectives for nano-biotechnology enabled protection and nutrition of plants. (2011, unknown): “Supplementation of soils with micronutrients trapped in nanomaterials for their slow release would promote plant growth and soil health (Peteu et al., 2010).”
• Polymeric Nanoparticle-Based Insecticides: A Controlled Release Purpose for Agrochemicals (2013, unknown): “Since there is no need for re-applications, they also decrease the costs), reduce the irritation of the human mucous-membrane, the phyto‐ toxicity, and the environmental damage to other untargeted organisms and even the crops themselves [65,66].”