Licorice-wolfberry derived nanomaterials enhance sclerotinia stem rot resistance by activating JA-mediated immune response in rapeseed

Due to the lack of resistant germplasm, sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by S. sclerotiorum ( Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ) has become the most destructive disease in rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) production. Nanobiotechnology has recently been considered as a sustainable approach for crop protection by reducing pesticide use. In this study, a novel blue-green fluorescent nanocomplex derived from licorice and wolfberry (LW-NCs) was synthesized and characterized, exhibiting stronger antioxidant activity compared with licorice or wolfberry extracts alone. LW-NCs promoted the growth of rapeseed seedlings without affecting photosynthesis efficiency. In vitro antifungal assays revealed that LW-NCs significantly inhibited the growth of S. sclerotiorum at a concentration of 200 ppm. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses demonstrated that foliar application of LW-NCs increased the JA content and the activities of SOD and CAT in rapeseed, ultimately enhancing the tolerance of rapeseed to S. sclerotiorum . In addition, toxicity experiments have demonstrated that LW-NCs possess excellent biocompatibility. These results indicated that the application of LW-NCs can not only improve the disease resistance of rapeseed, but also help reduce the harm of pesticides to human health, ensuring the safety of them for agricultural applications. • A novel Licorice-Wolfberry derived nanomaterials were synthesized and characterized. • Nanomaterials promote the growth of rapeseed seedlings. • Nanomaterials exhibit excellent ROS scavenging and antifungal activity. • Nanomaterials improve rapeseed tolerance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. • Nanomaterials stimulate jasmonic acid-mediated defense responses.