Carbonate-Substituted Hydroxyapatite Carrier for Plant Vascular Pathogens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods are inadequate for effectively controlling vascular diseases in plants such as grapevine yellows, bacterial canker in kiwifruit, olive quick decline syndrome, and citrus bacterial canker, due to the difficulty in reaching and treating pathogens within plant vascular tissues.
Innovation Solution
The use of carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite as a carrier for bioactive substances, which penetrates plant tissues through natural openings, allowing for intimate contact with pathogens and enhanced release of anti-parasite and nutritional agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bioactive substances are applied to plants, then they remain on the surface, but they cannot reach pathogens within vascular tissues
Solution Approach 1:
Hydroxyapatite particles serve as intermediary carriers that transport bioactive substances from the plant surface through natural openings (stomata, lenticels, wounds) into the vascular tissues where pathogens reside. The particles act as a delivery vehicle that bridges the gap between external application and internal target sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydroxyapatite particles provide a porous matrix structure that allows bioactive substances to be loaded, protected, and gradually released. The porous nature facilitates penetration through plant tissues and enables sustained delivery of anti-parasite agents to the vascular system.
2Reliability
If bioactive substances are applied at high concentrations, then pathogen contact is enhanced, but substance loss and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydroxyapatite carrier changes the delivery parameters of bioactive substances by enabling localized concentration at the pathogen site while reducing overall application rates. The controlled release mechanism maintains effective concentrations where needed without excessive environmental dispersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of hydroxyapatite with bioactive substances creates a composite material system where the inorganic carrier enhances the stability and targeted delivery of organic anti-parasite agents, reducing degradation and off-target losses.
3Reliability
If vascular diseases are treated early, then disease progression is halted, but detection difficulty prevents timely intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The hydroxyapatite particles can be functionalized with color indicators or fluorescent markers that enable visual or instrumental detection of particle localization within plant tissues. This allows monitoring of delivery effectiveness and pathogen contact without requiring complex diagnostic procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite effectively delivers bioactive substances to the site of infection, reducing disease symptoms and improving plant health by targeting pathogens within the plant's vascular system.
Implementation Method 1
The carbonate-substituted hydroxyapatite carrier loaded with at least one bioactive substance... penetrates into the plants through natural openings... thus realizing an intimate contact with pathogen cells
Implementation Method 2
enhanced release of anti-parasite and nutritional agents
Data Source
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AI summary
The subject matter of the invention is a hydroxyapatite carrier, corresponding to the formula : Ca(10-x)Mx(PO4)(6-y)(CO3)y(OH)2 in which: M is chosen from Cu, Mg, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ba, K, Mn, Mo, Fe, Ag, B, Se or a combination of at least two of such elements; - x is comprised between 0 and 2, preferably between 0 and 1, more preferably between 0 and 0.8, even more preferably between 0.02 and 0.05; - y is comprised between 0 and 2, preferably between 0 and 1, more preferably between 0.002 and 0.030, The hydroxyapatite is a carrier of a bioactive substance chosen among a metal ion selected from Cu, Zn, S, Mn, Mg, K, Fe, B, Mo, Se and/or an extract of vegetal origin. The bioactive substances are active in the treatment of vascular diseases of plants, in particular: grapevine yellows (caused by grapevine phytoplasma), bacterial canker in kiwifruit (caused by Pseudomonas syringae), olive quick decline syndrome (caused by Xylella fastidiosa) and Citrus bacterial canker disease (caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis).