AUTHOR=Wang Jiajie , Wang Fei , Zhang Yu , Li Xun 

TITLE=Antifungal and biodegradable nanoencapsulation of Smallanthus Sonchifolius essential oil for improved stability and sustained release

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1626646

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2025.1626646

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=IntroductionPhytopathogenic fungi pose a serious threat to global crop productivity, necessitating sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides.MethodsThis study developed poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres encapsulating essential oil extracted from Smallanthus sonchifolius tubers (SsEO) to enhance antifungal stability and efficacy.ResultsThe nanospheres exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency of 98%, significantly improved the photostability of SsEO by protecting it from UV-induced degradation, and provided a sustained-release profile that extended its functional longevity. In vitro assays showed that the nanoencapsulated SsEO inhibited Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Valsa mali by 93.6% and 56.9%, respectively, while in vivo inhibition rates reached 94.45% and 92.5%.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that biodegradable, photoprotective PCL nanospheres offer a promising eco-friendly strategy for plant pathogen management, reducing reliance on chemical fungicides, and minimizing environmental impact.environmental impact.