A cyclodextrin/ROS-responsive Pydiflumetofen nanoparticle for enhanced fungicidal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soybean

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , significantly reduces soybean yields. Conventional SSR-based pesticide application presents environmental and health hazards, whereas ROS-responsive nanocarrier systems demonstrate superior efficacy as a sustainable alternative. In this study, PYD@OxbCD NPs, encapsulating Pydiflumetofen (PYD), were synthesized and showed ROS-triggered release and strong in vitro activity against SSR. This targeted release mechanism reduces ecological risk by minimizing pesticide exposure to non-target organisms. PYD@OxbCD delivers PYD more precisely to infected soybean tissues, outperforming traditional Pydiflumetofen suspension concentrate (SC) in antifungal efficacy. It also upregulates defense-related genes and reduces disease incidence and severity in soybean plants. PYD@OxbCD also mitigates the phytotoxic effects of PYD SC on seedling growth. Overall, PYD@OxbCD shows strong potential as an effective nanoplatform for managing SSR in soybeans, enhancing disease control and pesticide utilization for sustainable agriculture.