A new UC Riverside-led study reveals how common small particles produced by nature as well as human activities can transform upon entering plant cells and weaken plants’ ability to turn sunlight into food.
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals how common small particles produced by nature as well as human activities can transform upon entering plant cells and weaken plants’ ability to turn sunlight into food. The discovery offers a path to control this issue.
Engine combustion and manufacturing, natural processes like forest fires and volcanic eruptions all emit nanoparticles, which are thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Engineered nanoparticles are also being studied for promising uses in agriculture and biofuels. They can precisely deliver pesticides or nutrients to plants, protect them against drought or heat, and even serve as tiny sensors to monitor plant health.
“Half of all fertilizer applied on farms is lost in the environment and pollutes groundwater. With the most commonly used pesticides, it’s even worse -- only 5% may reach their intended targets. There’s a lot of room for improvement,” said Juan Pablo Giraldo, associate professor of plant biology at UCR.
Read more at University of California - Riverside
Image: UC Riverside plant biologist Juan Pablo Giraldo (left) and study first author Christopher Castillo (right) in the laboratory. (Credit: Juan Pablo Giraldo/UCR)
