LAUSR

BACKGROUND Pesticides are irreplaceable inputs for protecting crops from pests and improving crop yield and quality. Self-assembled nanotechnology is a promising strategy to develop novel nano-formulations for pesticides to improve the effective utilization and reduce risks to the ecological environment duo to the eco-friendly preparation process, high drug loading, and desirable physicochemical properties. Herein, to enhance the utilization efficiency of the myclobutanil (MYC) and develop a novel nano-formulation, carrier-free co-assembled nanoparticles (MT NPs) based on MYC and tannic acid (TA) were prepared by non-covalent molecular interactions using a green preparation process without any additives. RESULTS The results showed that the prepared spherical nanoparticles had good stability in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions, low surface tension (40.53 mN m-1 ), high rainfastness, and good maximum retentions on plant leaves. The release of active ingredients from MT NPs could be regulated by the molar ratio of subassemblies in the co-assembly and the pH of the environment. The antifungal experiments demonstrated that the MT NPs had better activities against Alternaria alternata and Fusarium graminearum (EC50 =6.40 and 77.08 mg/L) than free MYC (EC50 =11.46 and 124.82 mg/L), TA (EC50 =251.19 and 503.81 mg/L), and MYC+TA mixture (EC50 =9.62 and 136.21 mg/L), which suggested that MYC and TA incorporated in the co-assembled nanoparticles had a synergistic antifungal activity. The results of genotoxicity assessment indicated that MT NPs could reduce the genotoxicity of MYC to plant cells. CONCLUSION The co-assembled MT NPs with a synergistic antifungal activity would have outstanding potential for the management of plant diseases. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.