Calcium carbonate‐modified plant sporopollen capsule as an eco‐friendly microvehicle for controlled release of pesticide

Abstract

Background In this work, natural club moss (Lycopodium clavatum, LC) spores with a porous surface morphology and highly uniform size distribution were engineered into controlled‐release microvehicles for pesticide delivery. As a proof of concept, a widely used fungicide, fluazinam (FLU), was successfully loaded into LC spores and then modified with different amounts of CaCO3 (CaC) to extend the efficacy duration of FLU. Significantly, as the control target of FLU, clubroot disease is a worldwide destructive disease of cruciferous crops, and its development is favored by acidic soils and can be suppressed at high Ca concentrations. Results Fabricated FLU@LC‐CaC microcapsules, FLU loading and CaCO3 deposition were systematically characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The as‐prepared FLU@LC‐CaC microcapsules showed sustained‐release behaviors and were potentially able to supplement the Ca concentration in acidic environments. This approach synergistically enhanced in vivo bioactivity for the on‐demand control of clubroot disease. An in vivo bioassay revealed that the control efficacy of FLU@LC‐CaC against clubroot disease in pak choi (Brassica chinensis) (66.4%) was 1.7‐fold higher than that of a commercial FLU suspension concentrate (38.2%) over the course of the cultivation period (35 days). Conclusions This work provides new ideas not only for developing eco‐friendly and scalable microvehicles for pesticide delivery based on natural sporopollen, but also for unconventional research perspectives in on‐demand pest management based on their occurrence characteristics. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.