Nanoparticles From Plant Pathogen Could Be the New Ally in Pest Control; How Can Tobacco Mild Green Mosaic Virus Aid in Precision Farming?

As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food is also increasing. However, crop production faces threats from pests and diseases which lead to significant losses for farmers. Traditional methods of pest control have been effective, but they have also raised concerns about their impact on the environment and human health.

Experts have been exploring alternative techniques to control pests, and one promising approach involves the use of nanoparticles from plant viruses. Nanoparticles have shown potential in pest control while being environmentally friendly and safe for human consumption.

A New Form of Agricultural Pest Control

At University of California San Diego, a team of engineers developed nanoparticles from plant viruses. They aim to deliver pesticide molecules to soil depths which were previously unreachable. This technique can potentially help farmers fight parasitic nematodes, a kind of pathogens that plagues the root zones of crops.

Led by nanoengineering professor Nicole Steinmetz, the research team drew inspiration from nanomedicine, an area in pharmaceutical industry where nanoparticles are created for targeted drug delivery. They believe that this technology has the potential of enhancing the effectiveness of pest control treatment without the need to increase the dosage of pesticide.

This approach lies on the properties of tobacco mild green mosaic virus, a plant pathogen which has the ability to travel through the soil with ease. The researchers modified these virus nanoparticles by removing the RNA that makes them infectious to crops. The nanoparticles are then mixed with pesticide solutions in water, creating spherical virus-like nanostructures packed with pesticides through a simple one-pot synthesis.

Steinmetz and her colleagues conducted experiments to analyze the efficacy of their pesticide-packed nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were watered through columns of soil and the pesticides were successfully transported to depths of at least 4 inches (10 centimeters). After collecting the solutions from the bottom of the soil columns, they were found to contain the pesticide-packed nanoparticles. Upon treating the nematodes with the pesticide solution, at least half of their population was eliminated in a petri dish.

The researchers have not yet tested the nanoparticles on the nematodes lurking beneath the soil, but they believe that their findings mark a significant step forward. In the future, the team plans to test the nanoparticles in actual infested plants in order to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world agricultural scenarios.

Potential of Tobacco Mild Green Mosaic Virus as Pesticide Carrier

Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) refers to a plant virus that is closely related to Tobacco mosaic virus. They are known for infecting tobacco plants, some varieties of tomatoes, and ornamental plants.

Despite their effects on crop quality and yield, these rod-shaped viruses have been utilized as nanotechnological platforms for various applications, from drug delivery to precision agriculture. In fact, it was already approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as an herbicide in controlling an invasive plant known as the tropical soda apple.

In a study conducted in 2017, the researchers have reported successful formulation and characterization of tobacco mild green mosaic virus as anthelmintic drug against plant parasitic nematodes. Their versatility as multifunctional nanocarriers is attributed to their chemically active external and internal surfaces.