Chitosan-Copper\nHybrid Nanoflowers: A Novel Nanopesticide\nfor Controlling Rhizoctonia solani Infection\nin Crops

Copper-based\nnanomaterials are effective alternatives\nto traditional\npesticides due to their antibacterial properties. However, the high\ncost and low dispersity limit their application. In this study, we\nsynthesized cost-effective, eco-friendly, and stable chitosan-copper\nhybrid nanoflowers (CS-Cu HNFs) through facile self-assembly to manage\nagricultural diseases caused by the fungal pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani). The results show that CS-Cu\nHNFs, which utilized chitosan and copper phosphate as primary scaffolds,\nwere formed via a series of nucleation, aggregation, self-assembly,\nand anisotropic growth processes. 200 mg/L CS-Cu HNFs exhibited an\nexcellent inhibitory effect on R. solani, which was 6.11 times that of CuO nanoparticles, despite CS-Cu HNFs\ncontaining only 45% of Cu as that in CuO nanoparticles. Additionally,\nCS-Cu HNFs significantly reduced R. solani infection in various crops and displayed broad-spectrum antibacterial\nactivity. This research provides new insights into the preparation\nand application of organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers as\nnanopesticides.