An international team of scientists has developed advanced nanocomposites, made of clay and essential oils, capable of protecting crops from diseases in an ecological and environmentally responsible manner.
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26/09/2026
by
Lusa
Fruit Trees
O study, led by scientists from the University of Venice (Italy) and the Experimental Agriculture Station of Connecticut (United States), counted on the participation of the Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV) of the CSIC, reported on Friday the agency Efe.
Researchers have developed nanostructured materials that allow the transport of essential oils from oregano, thyme and cloves.
These materials adhere to the flowers and fight the fire-bacterial, one of the most destructive diseases for fruit trees, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora.
The disease, which infects flowers, shoots, leaves, and fruits, causes the branches to wither and darken, and may spread to the rest of the tree.
Infection, which can lead the plant to death, dramatically reduces fruit production, causing significant economic losses to farms.
The study, published on Friday in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, uses a bentonite-like clay as a vehicle to incorporate encapsulated essential oils that act on flowers, where one of the crucial stages of infection occurs.
Currently, the fire-bacterial, which affects more than 130 species of the family of roses and is present in more than 40 countries, is combated with antibiotics, which brings the risk of favoring the appearance of antimicrobial resistance.
Therefore, scientists are looking for alternatives to reduce antibiotic dependence “without giving up effective crop protection,” explained Cástor Salgado, ICV researcher.
Through field tests and genetic analyses, the team proved that the formulation with oregano significantly reduced the presence of Erwinia amylovora bacteria at levels similar to those obtained with antibiotics.
More specifically, nanomaterials loaded with essential oils reduced the incidence of the disease by 76%, compared to the 81% achieved by streptomycin, the antibiotic used as a reference treatment.
In addition, molecular analyses showed that the clay remained attached to the flowers until nine days after application, which suggests that it can protect crops consistently without generating resistance to antimicrobials.
The work demonstrates the potential of nanostructured materials as a natural way to protect cultures and opens a new path to the development of solutions that combine effectiveness, innovation and sustainability.
The CSIC requested a European patent because of the potential for application of this technology.