Silk Fibroin Seed Coatings: Towards Sustainable Seed Protection and Enhanced Growth.

ABSTRACT: Seed coating technology is vital in agriculture, enhancing seed protection and growth. However, conventional coatings often include chemical fungicides that pose environmental risks, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. This study explores silk fibroin (SF), a natural biopolymer with excellent film-forming properties, as a potential seed coating agent, addressing its antimicrobial limitations by combining it with the commercial agent CRUISER^® and the antimicrobial peptide Nisin. Experimental methods included solution stability analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and growth assessments of wheat seeds. Findings reveal that silk fibroin-CRUISER^® (SC) composites form stable β-sheet structures, enhanc

SUBMITTER: Jin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11644567 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature