A palgorskite-based nanocomposite effectively reducing the incidence of powdery mildew

Wheat powdery mildew (PM) is one of the world's top 10 most destructive fungal plant pathogen and the routine control of this disease is by application of fungicides and disease-resistant cultivars. In this study, a nanocomposite composed of amino silicon oil (ASO) and palygorskite (Pal) was developed and can effectively inhibit the pathogen. The results demonstrated that the morphology and microstructure of Pal could be effectively modified by ASO via hydrogen bonds between -NH2 of ASO and − OH of Pal, resulting in an increase of hydrophobic surface groups. Further analysis showed that nanonetworks were formed by Pal-ASO interaction, which could effectively segregate Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) conidia from wheat leaf surface and reduce the disease index by 98%. This work provides an economic and environmentally friendly approach to control the wheat powdery mildew disease.