A new tool for precision agriculture: Plant Virus-like particles as Nano-carriers for targeted delivery of agrochemicals and biomacromolecules

The management of fungal diseases in agriculture often relies on the extensive use of fungicides resulting in the accumulation of harmful residues in the crop fields leading to environmental pollution.

Therefore, precision farming is needed to improve the efficacy of these agrochemicals and minimize environmental concerns.

Bio-Nano-Carrier-based delivery systems like plant Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) proposed in this project will offer a sustainable solution. VLPs are empty protein cages derived from different plant viruses.

The idea of ​​this proposal is to load the VLPs with suitable fungicides/biologicals and deliver them precisely to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans and a fungal pathogen Helminthosporium solani in the potato crop.

We propose developing and testing four diversified VLPs (Physalis mottle virus-like particles, Sesbania mosaic Viruses Like particles, Brome Mosaic virus-Like particles, and Sugarcane streak mosaic Virus-Like Particles) as bio-nanocarriers. Each proposed VLP platform has its advantages as a delivery vehicle.

We proposed investigating 1) the efficiency of proposed viruses to form VLPs in bacterial expression systems, 2) conjugation or infusion of the suitable fungicides and biologicals onto the VLPs 3) test if spray applied VLPs can prevent late blight and silver scurf infections.VLP based Nano-delivery systems have the potential to provide environmentally safe, sustainable fungal disease control as part of precision agriculture.