g-C3N4@CuO electrostatic self-assembly toward Ralstonia solanacearum: Insights from cytomembrane and motility disruption

BACKGROUND Ralstonia solanacearum , a notorious and refractory bacterial plant pathogen, threatens multiple vegetable crops and causes significant economic loss in agriculture. Long-term use of traditional medicines not only increases the problem of drug resistance, but also causes great environmental pollution. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new agents with high efficacy and low toxicity. RESULTS In this study, we have synthesized and characterized graphitic carbon nitride incorporated copper oxide composite (g-C 3 N 4 @CuO), which showed higher antimicrobial effect than graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). Ralstonia solanacearum exposed to g-C 3 N 4 @CuO exhibited higher levels of oxygen toxicity, cell membrane damage, DNA damage, motility disruption and even cell death compared to g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets and CuONPs. In addition, g-C 3 N 4 @CuO was more effective in the control of tobacco bacterial wilt than g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets and CuONPs. CONCLUSION Thus, this study provides a new perspective on g-C 3 N 4 @CuO control of bacterial diseases in crops, and the mechanism is related to the destruction of cell membrane damage and motility disruption. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.