2026-05-05T19:37:38Zhttps://uvadoc.uva.es/oai/request

oai:uvadoc.uva.es:10324/666192025-02-06T11:07:27Zcom_10324_1166com_10324_931com_10324_894col_10324_1338

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Santiago Aliste, Alberto author Sánchez Hernández, Eva author Buzon Duran, Laura author Marcos Robles, José Luis author Martín Gil, Jesús author Martín Ramos, Pablo author 2023 Given the risks associated with synthetic fungicides, it is crucial to explore safe and sustainable alternatives. One potential solution is using bioactive natural products (BNPs). However, BNPs face challenges like lability, solubility, and lack of specificity. These issues can be addressed through nanoencapsulation. This study focuses on the evaluation of novel chitosan oligomers–hydroxyapatite–carbon nitride (COS–HAp–g-C3N4) nanocarriers (NCs) for encapsulating BNPs, specifically an extract from Uncaria tomentosa bark. The NCs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The NCs were monodisperse, with a mean diameter of 250 nm, and showed an encapsulation efficiency of 82%. The suitability of the loaded NCs (COS–HAp–g-C3N4–BNP, in a 2:1:0.5:1 weight ratio) for postharvest fruit protection was investigated in vitro and ex situ at a laboratory scale. Results regarding their efficacy against Botrytis cinerea on strawberries, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on mangoes, Penicillium expansum on apples, Monilinia laxa on peaches, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on kiwifruit are presented. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 250, 375, 375, 250, and 187.5 μg·mL−1 were found in vitro, respectively, while higher doses (500, 750, 750, 250, and 375 μg·mL−1, respectively) were needed to achieve effective control in postharvest tests on artificially inoculated fruit. These findings suggest that NCs containing extracts from U. tomentosa bark show promise as biorational agents and as alternatives to conventional fungicides for managing postharvest phytopathogens. Agronomy, 2023, Vol. 13, Nº. 9, 2189 2073-4395 https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/66619 10.3390/agronomy13092189 2189 9 Agronomy 13 2073-4395 Agronomy Biomaterials Polymers Polímeros Nanotechnology Nanotecnología Chitosan Microencapsulation Food - Packaging Alimentos - Envasado Fungicides Fruit - Postharvest diseases and injuries Frutas - Enfermedades y plagas Sustainable agriculture Agricultura sostenible Plants, Protection of Uncaria tomentosa-loaded chitosan oligomers–hydroxyapatite–carbon nitride nanocarriers for postharvest fruit protection