Researchers Develop Spray-On Armor for Plants to Combat Hunger

The global food crisis is escalating, with the United Nations reporting that nearly 318 million people are facing acute hunger across 68 countries. Factors such as industrial climate change, economic inequality, and ongoing conflicts have exacerbated this situation, with notable famines occurring in Palestine and Sudan. In light of these challenges, researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed an innovative solution: a spray-on polymer that acts as a protective armor for plants.

In their recent paper published in ACS Materials Letters, lead author Patrick Opdensteinen and his team introduce a polymer designed to enhance plant health. This breakthrough aims to provide a tool for global food security by helping crops resist destructive bacterial infections while withstanding drought conditions.

Bacterial diseases pose significant threats to essential crops, affecting diverse plants from tomatoes to fruit trees. As climate change allows these pathogens to invade new regions, the need for effective plant protection becomes increasingly urgent. The innovative spray-on armor developed by the UC San Diego team functions by weakening the cell membranes of harmful bacteria, thereby fortifying plants against infections.

How the Spray-On Armor Works

Researchers from the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering collaborated to create a synthetic polymer known as polynorbornene. Unlike traditional polymer synthesis that employs toxic organic solvents, the team adjusted their method to use water as a medium. This adaptation not only made the polymer biocompatible with plants but also allowed for a convenient spray formulation.

Co-first author Luis Palomino, a PhD candidate in chemical and nano engineering, noted, “What we did differently here is we made the polymer in buffer conditions in water. That allowed us to make a spray formulation that’s more biocompatible with plants.” This approach enables easy dilution and application, making it accessible for agricultural use.

Interestingly, the protective benefits of the spray do not require full coverage of the plant. Opdensteinen described a surprising discovery: “We can spray just a small part of the leaf, and that translates to bacterial immunity for the whole plant. That was a really cool outcome.” This efficiency could revolutionize how farmers apply protective measures to their crops.

Benefits Beyond Bacterial Resistance

The research also revealed that the spray-on armor enhances plant resilience to drought. In trials, untreated plants exhibited significant wilting after just four days without water, while those treated with the polymer remained healthy. This suggests that the coating may help retain moisture, acting similar to a protective barrier that minimizes water loss.

Opdensteinen speculated that the treatment may trigger a stress response in plants, leading to an increase in hydrogen peroxide, which could activate additional defense mechanisms. As the team looks ahead, they aim to improve the polymer’s biodegradability and assess any potential toxicity, with hopes of applying this technology in real-world agricultural settings.

“Our hope is to use this in the field to benefit agriculture, and this is the first step. There’s a lot of potential for plant protection,” Opdensteinen concluded. As the world grapples with escalating food insecurity, such innovations may provide vital support in safeguarding crops and, ultimately, human lives.