Research conducted by scientists from the University of Venice (Italy) and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (United States), with the participation of the Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV) CSIC, reported the development of new materials to the agency Efe.
The researchers created nanostructured materials capable of transporting essential oils of oregano, thyme, and clove. These materials are attached to flowers and combat bacterial blight—one of the most destructive diseases of fruit trees, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora.
The infection affects flowers, shoots, leaves, and fruits, leading to wilting and browning of branches, and can spread throughout the wood. This contamination, which can lead to plant death, sharply reduces crop yields, resulting in significant economic losses for farms.
The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, uses bentonite clay as a carrier for incorporating encapsulated essential oils, which act on the flowers—the site where one of the critical stages of infection occurs.
Currently, bacterial blight affecting over 130 species of the Rosaceae family and present in more than 40 countries is treated with antibiotics, creating a risk of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, scientists are seeking alternatives that reduce dependence on antibiotics while maintaining effective crop protection, as explained by ICV researcher Castor Salgado.
Through field trials and genetic analysis, the team demonstrated that the oregano formula significantly reduced the presence of the bacterium Erwinia amylovora to levels comparable to those achieved using antibiotics. More specifically, the oil-loaded nanomaterials reduced incidence by 76% compared to 81% achieved with streptomycin, which was used as the standard treatment.
Furthermore, molecular analysis showed that the clay remained attached to the flowers for up to nine days after application, indicating the potential for stable crop protection without developing resistance to antimicrobial drugs. The work demonstrates the potential of nanostructured materials as a natural method of crop protection and opens a new path for developing solutions that combine effectiveness, innovation, and sustainability. CSIC has applied for a European patent due to the potential application of this technology.