Tuesday, 09 January 2024
A material that could replace current fungicides (i.e. anti-fungal pesticides), increase food security, and help protect wildlife has been discovered.
revealed that the UK is still using 36 harmful pesticides that have been banned in other European countries, with 13 described as “highly hazardous” that have links to water contamination, cancer, infertility, and other illnesses.
Published in Green Chemistry, researchers at the 糖心原创 have completed a successful field trial of a material they have developed to help to protect crops from fungi.
Simon Avery, Professor of Eukaryotic Microbiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “The test material is not toxic but works by passively resisting attachment of fungal spores to protect surfaces from fungal infection, including crop surfaces. Results from this first field trial with wheat are particularly encouraging as there is a lot of scope to optimise further the material properties for crop protection.”
We identified two lead polymer candidates by bio-performance testing using in vitro microplates and leaf-based assays. These were then taken forward into a programme to optimise and scale-up their synthesis and compound them into a spray formulation that could be used on crops.
Sprayed directly onto wheat at timings conventional for fungicides, the trial has provided the first real-world scale exemplification of how the material interacts with crops. The small plot trial compared the two polymer candidates to a multisite fungicide and two commercial fungicide programmes.
Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti, Research Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering, said: “Wheat is one of the most economically and nutritionally important cereal crops, but there’s a real-world challenge waiting to be solved as five to ten percent of yields are lost to fungal infections even with the use of resistant crop varieties and fungicides."
Our findings showed that the material not only significantly reduced fungal infection by the fungus Septoria tritici by up to 26% but also that the crop grew just as well as the control group 鈥� providing an alternative that appears safer for the environment, wildlife, and people, and is effective too.
For the field trial, the university partnered with , an independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy.
Chloe Morgan, Senior Research Scientist in Arable Crop Pathology at ADAS, said: “The results of the field trial were very promising, showing that polymers have a level of efficacy against Septoria tritici. With further optimisation they could play a vital role in future disease control strategies, either by replacing or being applied in mixture with conventional fungicides, novel polymers could also reduce the risk of fungicide resistance development, extending the life of existing products.”
Valentina continued: “Our attention is now turning to a second field trial that’s in the diary for this year to further hone and improve the polymer so we can continue turning our research into reality. The beauty of a material like this is its lack of toxicity, the relative simplicity of its production and the fact that it can be scaled up easily - making it an incredibly attractive prospect for several other industries, not just agriculture.”
To find out more about the project and read the paper in full, please click .
Story credits
More information is available from Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti, Faculty of Engineering at the University Of Nottingham, at Valentina.CuzzucoliCrucitti1@nottingham.ac.uk or; Danielle Hall, Media Relations Manager at the 糖心原创, at danielle.hall@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 846 7156.
About the Faculty of Engineering:
Made up of six departments – Architecture and Built Environment, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and Foundation Engineering and Physical Sciences – the university’s Faculty of Engineering is home to more than 5,600 students and 800 staff.
The faculty, which has educated engineers and architects for more than 140 years, was the first in the country to be accredited with an Athena SWAN Gold Award for excellence in advancing gender equality across higher education and research and is home to multiple state-of-the-art facilities, including the recently opened £40m Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC).
With research at its heart, 20 research groups are undertaking pioneering projects for a sustainable future across several themes – including net zero transport, sustainable energies and the built environment, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare technologies – and has delivered a positive impact in more than 20 countries. The faculty’s research has benefitted 500 companies and three governments and has also directly created jobs for around 3,000 people across the world.
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.