Foliar absorption and field herbicidal studies of atrazine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles

Author(s)

Takeshita, Vanessa ^[1] ; de Sousa, Bruno Teixeira ^{[2, 3]} ; Preisler, Ana Cristina ^{[2, 3]} ; Carvalho, Lucas Braganca ^[4] ; Santo Pereira, Anderson do Espirito ^[4] ; Tornisielo, Valdemar Luiz ^[1] ; Dalazen, Giliardi ^[3] ; Oliveira, Halley Caixeta ^[2] ; Fraceto, Leonardo Fernandes ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr, Av Centenario 303, BR-13400970 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Anim & Plant Biol, PR 445, Km 380, BR-86057970 Londrina, Parana - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Agron, PR 445, Km 380, BR-86057970 Londrina, Parana - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Sci & Technol, UNESP, Av Tres de Marco 511, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; v. 418, SEP 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Nanoparticles loaded with atrazine show weed control efficacy even with lower application doses of the active ingredient. Changes in the mode of action of the herbicide through the nanoformulation are key to understanding the efficiency of post-emergence activity of nanoatrazine. Here, we report the leaf absorption and translocation of nanoatrazine and atrazine employing radiometric techniques and compare their herbicidal effects in greenhouse and field conditions. Compared to the commercial formulation, nanoatrazine showed greater and faster absorption rates in mustard leaves (40% increment in the absorbed herbicide 24 h after application), inducing higher inhibition of photosystem II activity. Assays with fusicoccin-treated leaves indicated that the stomatal uptake of nanoparticles might be involved in the improved activity of nanoatrazine. Nanoencapsulation potentiated the post-emergent herbicidal activity of atrazine and the gain provided by nanoencapsulation was higher in the field compared to greenhouse conditions. Regardless of the dose, nanoatrazine provided two-fold higher weed control in the field compared to commercial atrazine. Thus, the design of this carrier system enables improvements in the performance of the herbicide in the field with less risk of environmental losses of the active ingredients due to faster absorption. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/04758-1 - Nanoparticles as a carrier of herbicides applied in pre-emergency system in soils derived from no-tillage and conventional
• Grantee: Vanessa Takeshita
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/23608-8 - Development of labelled nanopesticides aiming studies of mechanism of action and toxicity
• Grantee: Lucas Bragança de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/21004-5 - Agriculture, micro/nanotechnology and environment: from evaluation of the mechanisms of action to studies of transport and toxicity
• Grantee: Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants