Evaluating cellulose nanofibers for managing potato diseases

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are non-toxic nanomaterials derived from plant cellulose, which is the most abundant, renewable biomass found in nature. Recently, CNFs were shown to effectively reduce the severity of Asian soybean rust, generating much attention for agricultural use. To investigate the potential application of CNFs for field crops including potatoes, this proposed project will study (1) the effect of CNFs as plant protectants on foliar and tuber diseases of potato, and (2) the influence of CNFs on plant defense responses in potato tissues. We hypothesize that CNFs alleviate potato diseases without inducing plant defense responses, which often results in fitness penalties such as growth retardation and yield loss. The goal of this project is to expand the utility of CNFs as protectants against plant diseases thereby providing a new avenue for eco-friendly and sustainable management of plant diseases.