Open Access

ARTICLE

Encapsulation of Bacterial Metabolic Infiltrates Isolated from Different Bacillus Strains in Chitosan Nanoparticles as Potential Green Chemistry-Based Biocontrol Agents against Radopholus similis

Hilary Ureña-Saborío^1*, Sergio Madrigal-Carballo¹, Jorge Sandoval², José R. Vega-Baudrit³, Alejandro Rodríguez-Morales²

1 National Center for Biotechnological Innovations (CENIBiot), CeNAT-CONARE, San José, Costa Rica
2 Biocontrol Research Laboratory, National Banana Corporation (CORBANA), Guápiles, Costa Rica
3 National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LANOTEC), CeNAT-CONARE, San José, Costa Rica

*Corresponding author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2017, 5(3-4), 290-299. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2017.634119

Abstract

Currently there is a trend towards reducing the use of agrochemicals in developing countries. However, they are still being applied intensively in tropical countries. Thus, there is a trend towards developing new products based on natural chemicals for pest control, leading to second-generation pesticides incorporating nano- and biotechnologies. Costa Rica is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world. One of the most important pests of banana and plantain crops is the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis (Cobb) Thorne. Highly toxic chemical compounds have traditionally been used to control this specific pest in banana plants, which can have dangerous effects on the environment and living beings as well. Biological control agents (BCA) like Bacillus isolated from nematode suppressive soils, in combination with nano- and biotechnological approaches, are gaining attention in the National Banana Corporation (CORBANA), as this plague generates great economic losses for the country. In order to perform encapsulation of active banana nematode biocontrol agents, we have been applying biopolymer carrier agents, such as chitosan and alginate, due to their recognized biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. Therefore, we have developed innovative formulations based on green chemistry approaches for encapsulating bacterial metabolic infiltrates (BMI) from four different Bacillus strains in order to improve the persistence and spread of these biocontrol agents in the soil and, consequently, becoming an effective pest control for banana plantations.

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Keywords

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