Farmers use a manufactured version of a natural plant hormone called gibberellic acid to improve the health and growth of crops, but it is highly sensitive to heat and light. A study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture shows that loading gibberellic acid into biodegradable nanoparticles can improve grape yield and quality, making it a promising and environmentally friendly approach for sustainable agricultural production.
Field applications demonstrated that treatment with gibberellic acid–loaded nanoparticles increased grape cluster weight by 104% and length by 67% compared with free gibberellic acid treatment, while berry weight, length, and width increased by 15%, 4%, and 13%, respectively.
"Compared to traditional products, nanocarrier systems ensure more efficient delivery of active substances such as plant growth regulators in agricultural applications," the authors wrote.
URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsfa.71082
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