Siberian scientists have developed selenium-based drugs, which effectively fight potato ring rot, but at the same time they are economical and easy to use.
According to Science in Siberia, in order to save potatoes from ring rot, containers, equipment and the planting material itself are treated with chemically aggressive substances - for example, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia or hydrochloric acid, which is unsafe for the environment. To combat decay, biologists, together with employees of the Favorskii Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry, SB RAS, are developing nanocomposite substances based on natural matrices.
Nanosized selenium particles are planted on the natural shell of arabinogalactan (from Siberian larch), starch and caraginan (synthesized from red algae). Nanocomposites do not harm nature, and they are easy to use: they are highly soluble in water and are suitable for both irrigation and spraying. Scientists have already tested the drugs in the laboratory.
Nanocomposite solutions were added to the bacterial suspension, and this mixture was kept for 72 hours. The study was carried out by determining the optical density of the bacterial suspension. The drug on arabinogalactan matrices showed itself most clearly, which reduced the number of bacteria by 30-40%. It was also found that all drugs reduce the ability of bacteria to form biofilms that help them survive in adverse conditions.
In this case, selenium was used in a weak concentration of 0,000625%. Scientists added dissolved nanocomposites to the plant environment and tracked plant growth, number of leaves, and other biometric parameters. The experiment showed that when these substances are added, the plant feels great and even grows a little better, and selenium was not found in plant tissues. In addition, biologists have made sure that nanocomposite solutions do not adversely affect Rhodococcus.
Researchers are now testing the effects of selenium on ring rot bacteria under real-world conditions. Experiments are now underway with potatoes grown in sterile sand. These conditions are already closer to natural: plants are affected by bacteria in the air, as well as lighting and other factors. Biologists use two treatment options - watering and spraying to find out which one is more effective, and in the summer they will transfer the experiment to a real potato field.
Source: https://www.popmech.ru/