Lignin Nanoparticles Boosted Tomato Disease Control
Researchers demonstrated that lignin carriers improved the efficacy of beneficial bacteria against tomato bacterial spot.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Botany
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World Vegetable Center researchers have developed a method using lignin nanoparticles to shield beneficial Bacillus bacteria from environmental stress. This research-stage approach reduced bacterial spot on greenhouse tomatoes by 41% compared to untreated plants.
Why it matters
By protecting beneficial microbes from UV light and environmental degradation, this method increases the reliability of biological control in agriculture. The study provides a pathway for more consistent performance of microbial treatments in diverse farming conditions.
The study utilized lignin nanoparticles, produced by dissolving lignin powder in an alkaline solution and lowering the pH, to shield Bacillus bacteria. The combination showed superior performance when mixed immediately before application rather than through sequential delivery.
The players
World Vegetable Center
An international research institute focused on vegetable production, nutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Moitri Santra
A researcher who developed the lignin nanoparticle production process and led subsequent field trials.
The details
Lignin — a structural biopolymer found in plant cell walls — is repurposed here to create protective nanoparticles. These particles act as a micro-shield against UV radiation and environmental stressors that typically limit the survival of beneficial bacteria. By mixing the nanoparticles directly with Bacillus immediately before treatment, researchers ensured the microbes reached the tomato plants with higher viability.
Timeline
Field trials led by Moitri Santra in Florida and South Carolina commenced in 2022.
The research findings were released as of October 14, 2026.
The Tech Race
This development follows previous World Vegetable Center research that established protocols for producing zinc-based nanoparticles. The current study expands the center's portfolio of nanotechnology-enabled biological controls.
This technology is currently in the research stage and not yet available for commercial agricultural application. Farmers and researchers should monitor forthcoming field trial results to determine the viability of scaling this microbial delivery method for commercial crops.
The takeaway
Lignin nanoparticles offer a potentially more reliable way to deploy biological controls by shielding beneficial microbes from harsh environmental factors. Interested parties should track future results from the World Vegetable Center’s field trials to see if this performance holds in real-world conditions.
What happens next
Researchers are conducting additional greenhouse experiments and aiming to initiate field trials to determine if these disease-control results remain reproducible outside of controlled environments.
Further reading
Explore more agricultural innovations in our Botany research archive.
More information
View organizational research and updates on the World Vegetable Center homepage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Horti Daily.
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