Journal
POLYMERS
Volume 14, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/polym14122356
Keywords
PLLA; electrospinning; chitosan; Trichoderma asperellum; Phaeomoniella chlamydospora; Phaeoacremonium aleophilum; esca
Categories
Funding
- Bulgarian National Science Fund [KP-06-OPR03/2]
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Fungi are the main components of plant pathogens, while Trichoderma spp. are beneficial microorganisms that can control the growth of many plant pathogens. In this study, eco-friendly hybrid nanomaterials were created by embedding Trichoderma asperellum spores in a film formed on electrospun PLLA fibers. These nanomaterials showed potential for inhibiting the growth of fungal pathogens and could serve as bioactive dressings for protecting grapevines against esca disease.
Fungi constitute the largest number of plant pathogens and are responsible for a range of serious plant diseases. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (P. chlamydospora) and Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (P. aleophilum) are the main fungal pathogens causing esca disease in grapevines. On the other hand, there are beneficial microorganisms such as Trichoderma spp., which are able to control the growth of many phytopathogens. In the present study, innovative, eco-friendly hybrid nanomaterials were created by electrospinning PLLA, followed by the formation of a film of chitosan/Trichoderma asperellum (T. asperellum) spores on the fibers. The polymer carrier used in this study plays an active role in ensuring the viability of the biological agent during storage and, when placed in contact with moisture, ensures the agent's normal development. Oligochitosan, as well as low molecular weight and high molecular weight chitosan, were used. The effects of chitosan molecular weight on the dynamic viscosity of chitosan solutions, film formation, mechanical properties, spore incorporation and growth were studied. The morphology of the prepared nanomaterials, and the presence of a film based on the formation of chitosan/T. asperellum spores on the PLLA fibers, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface chemical compositions of the fibrous materials were studied using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The mechanical properties of the obtained materials were also tested. The microbiological screening that was performed revealed that the eco-friendly hybrid nanomaterials incorporated with the beneficial microorganism, T. asperellum, to hamper the growth of the pathogenic P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum fungi. The suppression rate depended on the viscosity of the chitosan solution used for the film formation. The use of oligochitosan resulted in the most effective infection of the material with T. asperellum spores. The environmentally friendly hybrid nanomaterials obtained in this study-in which the bioagent was embedded-are promising bioactive dressings for protecting grapevines against esca disease.
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