Characterization, biochemical defense mechanisms, and antifungal activities of chitosan nanoparticle-encapsulated spinach seed essential oil

作者：Hajar Soleimani, Reza Mostowfizadeh‐Ghalamfarsa, Mustafa Ghanadian · 发表于：Journal of Agriculture and Food Research · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102016 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity、Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging、Ziziphus Jujuba Studies and Applications

Contemporary plant protection is progressively turning to non-chemical approaches. This study involved preparing spinach seed essential oil (SSEO)-loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (SSEO-LCNPs) as a delivery system, identifying the SSEO components, and evaluating their antifungal efficacy against Podosphaera fusca , the causative agent of powdery mildew in cucumber. Zeta potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) assessments were used to characterize the structural, physical, and chemical characteristics of the SSEO-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of SSEO revealed the presence of aromadendrene, L-limonene, and trans-anethole as the predominant components. Characterization of the SSEO-LCNPs revealed a spherical morphology, an average diameter of 116.2 nm, and a surface that is negatively charged, with an average zeta potential of −27.7 mV. The highest encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the essential oil were achieved with a 1:1 chitosan-to-SSEO weight ratio. The behavior of SSEO release from nanoparticles was effectively characterized by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Foliar application of 400 μg mL −1 SSEO-LCNPs significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew in cucumber in greenhouse-grown seedlings. Compared to untreated controls, SSEO-LCNP treatment significantly increased phenolic and flavonoid levels; and peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine am...