Designing of MOFs-Based Green Nanomaterials for Enhanced Pathogen Resistance and Pesticide Degradation in Tomato Plants

Over the past few years, nanotechnology and nanomaterials have played a crucial role in the agriculture sector. Notably, among different types of nanomaterials, the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown significant attention owing to their porosity, organic composition, biocompatibility, and tailored structural and compositional properties. Herein, in this research work, we have effectively prepared four types of MOFs including ZIF-8, ZIF-67, PFC 6, and PFC-7. Interestingly, among all prepared MOFs, the ZIF-67 exhibited exceptional performance. With an aim to further improve the efficacy of ZIF-67, we decorated it with SnO2. Among as-prepared samples, the optimal sample 5SnO2/ZIF-67 nanocomposite exhibited exceptional efficiency in terms of its high chemical and thermal stability, large surface area, selective antipathogenic activities, high catalytic activities, and disease resistance properties. Based on our various characterization techniques, such as XRD, DRS, PL, FS, BET, FT-IR, and RAMAN it has been confirmed that the incorporation of SnO2 into ZIF-67 leads to adjustments in band gaps, enhanced stability, modulated photo-electrons, provides large surface area, abundant active sites, and upgraded adsorption and selectivity for antipathogenic and pesticide degradation activities. As compared to pure ZIF-67, the most active sample 5SnO2@ZIF-67 showed ~4.5 and ~2.6 times significant improvement for glyphosate (GLY) and acephate (ACPH) degradation respectively. Remarkably, our prepared samples also offered potent performances against various pathogens in the Luria-Bertani medium. Based on the scavenger tests, •OH and O2- are respectively responsible for GLY and ACPH decomposition. Accordingly, the activities improvement mechanism and biochemical pathways are proposed. Finally, our novel research work will provide a gateway for the fabrication of MOFs-based green nanomaterials that will unlock a wide range of opportunities and applications in antipathogenic, and pesticide degradation activities and tomato plant growth.