Antimicrobial Assessment of Cellulose-Copper-Silica Nanocomposites for Crop Disease Management

Copper biocides have been widely used in agriculture for centuries, causing plant pathogens to develop resistance and other environmental problems. Previously, copper-silica nanoparticles (Cu-Si NPs) have demonstrated enhanced antimicrobial properties compared to standard copper products. Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer, it possesses biodegradability, and many of its nanomaterials exhibit antimicrobial properties, leading to the study of novel cellulose-Cu-Si nanocomposites to improve the efficacy of Cu-Si NPs. These materials were assessed against Xanthomonas alfalfae (copper-sensitive pathogen) and Xanthomonas perforans GEV-485 (copper-tolerant pathogen). Results suggest that the composite has potential to minimize copper use in agriculture industry.