Rhamnolipid-Stabilized Essential Oils Nanoemulsions: Sustainable Biopesticides and Biostimulants with Potential for Crop Protection
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The search for environmentally friendly solutions to effectively control crop pests while safeguarding human health has become a global priority. One promising strategy is to enhance plant defenses by pre-inducing their innate immune system. In this study, we developed rhamnolipid (RL)-stabilized nanoemulsions (NEs) encapsulating essential oils (EOs) as potential biopesticides and biostimulants for agroindustrial applications. These NEs were designed to improve the solubility and stability of EOs while effectively combining their insecticidal and/or repellent activities with the bioactive properties of RLs. In this regard, our interdisciplinary approach involved formulating and characterizing these NEs and evaluating their stability and wettability on plant leaf surfaces. We further evaluated their effects on bacterial growth in vitro and in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, along with their impact on beneficial soil microorganisms. We analyzed their ability to stimulate the plant’s immune system and their impact on the viability and reproduction of the aphid Myzus persicae. Additionally, we explored whether RLs stimulate plant defenses through alterations in the leaf cuticle. Our findings demonstrate that RL-stabilized EO-NEs are effective bioprotectants and biostimulants in the model plant, offering a sustainable alternative that could reduce reliance on chemical pesticides in agriculture.
Source: Agronomy
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Funders: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Antioquia, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, National Institutes of Health, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
Awards: G1236923025, ANALYSIS OF MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ARABIDOPSIS DEFENSE AGAINST SPECIALIST (B. BRASSICAE) AND GENERALIST (M. PERSICAE) APHIDS USING A TRANSCRIPTIONAL NETWORK-BASED GWAS APPROACH., G1768405889, G3138232078, G3154903677, G3398938731, G358641708, G3723441149, G3769344104, G3860694035, G5182537314, G5284675477, G5306399344, G6399363483, G7621791636, G7622340535, CENTRO DE ECOLOGIA APLICADA Y SUSTENTABILIDAD, G7770767004, G7852296049, G810795274, G8913732938
OpenAlex ID: W4408942870