Publication – Conference Proceedings

Conference contribution – Poster presentation

Bioinspired surfaces with anti-microbial properties for sustainable crop protection

ACS Fall 2025, Washington D.C., USA, 17-21 August 2024

Division of Agrochemicals (AGRO)
Session: Protection of Agricultural Productivity, Public Health, and the Environment
Date: August 20, 2025

This poster presentation showcases the development of a bioinspired, sprayable SafeWax coating designed to mitigate fungal infections in crops through a sustainable, chemical-free approach. The coating is based on saturated fatty acids (FAs) that self-assemble into superhydrophobic microstructures, mimicking the self-cleaning properties of lotus leaves. The formulation combines long-chain FAs, which form crystalline barriers, with short-chain FAs that exhibit intrinsic antifungal activity. Using Botrytis cinerea, a major fungal pathogen responsible for gray mold in over 200 plant species, the study demonstrates that tuning FA composition allows the coating to shift from passive anti-biofouling to active fungicidal function. The results indicate a significant reduction in spore adhesion and germination on coated plant surfaces, supporting the potential of this material as a novel, eco-friendly solution for crop protection.