Clay Nanoparticles Facilitate Delivery of Antiviral RNA for Crop Protection

Recently, nanotechnology, biotechnology and agriculture are gradually integrated into innovative crop protection product. My talk will present a good example that combines these disciplines to develop clay nanoparticle-based gene pesticide for plant virus protection. I will first introduce a clay nanomaterial, and then present the details for its use as a vehicle for topical delivery of RNA pesticide to plants. Topical application of naked dsRNA onto plant leaves can protect the plants from virus invasion for only 5-7 days. Once loaded on clay nanoparticles, the dsRNA does not easily wash off, shows sustained release and stays on sprayed leaves for 30 days. Significantly, a single spray of dsRNA-clay nanoparticles offers virus protection for 20-30 days for both sprayed and newly grown leaves. I will also show the possible pathways for delivered dsRNA to function.