Novel Copper Alginate Microspheres as Ecological Fungicides

Vinceković, Marko; Jurić, Slaven; Vlahoviček-Kahlina, Kristina; Novak, Adrijana; Ivić, Dario; Hazler, Laura; Jurkin, Tanja; Bafti, Arijeta; Šijaković Vujičić, Nataša (2024) Novel Copper Alginate Microspheres as Ecological Fungicides. Sustainability, 16 (13). ISSN 2071-1050

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.3390/su16135637

Abstract

Phytopathogenic fungi are living organisms that cause plant diseases and great damage to agricultural products. Despite the wide range of commercial fungicide products in use, there is a clear need for new and environmentally friendly fungicides. Here we propose a new ecological fungicide, copper alginate microspheres prepared by ionic gelation. The microspheres were characterized (morphology and topography, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, swelling behavior, rheology, kinetics and mechanism of copper ions release) and their in vitro antifungal potential against selected genera of phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated. Copper alginate microspheres inhibited spore germination of Botrytis cinerea. Compared to the control, the inhibition of B. cinerea spore germination (48%) was greater than that of the commercial fungicide Neoram® (22%). The mycelial growth of Cercospora beticola and Phytophthora ramorum was also significantly inhibited by the addition of copper alginate microspheres. Novel fungicide offer effective disease control while minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

encapsulation; copper alginate microspheres; ecological formulation; fungicides

Subjects:

BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES

Divisions:

Division of Materials Chemistry
Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

Projects: