Project Details
Projekt
Adaptive Living Seed Coatings
Subject Area
Plant Cultivation, Plant Nutrition, Agricultural Technology
Coating and Surface Technology
Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
Coating and Surface Technology
Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541298489
Seed coating, a method applied in modern agriculture for over 50 plant species, enhances seed storage, viability, and germination, leading to accelerated plant growth and agricultural yields. However, conventional seed coatings use non-degradable synthetic polymers like polyethers or polyurethanes. These not only offer poor active ingredient to polymer ratios but also contribute to microplastic pollution. Upcoming EU regulations are likely to prohibit such materials. To overcome these limitations, we propose to develop a new technology required for long-term preservation and enhanced germination of seeds under different environments and climate zones. Herein, we put forward an adaptive living seed coating technology that employs a synergy between bio-based dextran or pectin hydrogels and plant beneficial bacteria. Polysaccharides, dextran and pectin, will be chemically modified to integrate functional groups, which can be used for the formation of covalent (acrylate, maleimide) and supramolecular (cyclodextrin) crosslinks in hydrogels. Engineered bifunctional adhesion peptides will be used to decorate the surface of beneficial bacteria ensuring non-covalent attachment of beneficial bacteria to the polysaccharide chains of the hydrogel. Then, reactive polysaccharides, crosslinkers or enzymes with peptide-decorated rhizobacteria and trehalose will be combined, then applied to different seeds using a drum-coating technique. This allows for flexible variations in bacteria type, hydrogel coating properties, and seed coating structure. We’ll study the coatings at molecular, cellular, and macroscopic levels, examining crosslink dynamics, peptide-bacteria interactions, bacteria behavior in hydrogel layers, and the integrity and germination of coated seeds. The proposed research aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) Improve drought tolerance by developing programmable hydrogels that rehydrate and support beneficial bacteria, spores, and seeds in response to environmental cues. This enhances adaptability and promotes growth in various climates. 2) Engineer bio-hydrogel cross-links for controlled spore germination and bacterial mobility, enhancing adaptivity to dynamic growth conditions. 3) Explore the feasibility of integrating diverse bacterial populations for interactive communication and long-term adaptability in complex ecosystems. 4) Develop eco-friendly seed coatings with controlled degradation, to combat microplastics, promoting sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health. This project aims to advance bio-hybrid technology through systematic design and synthesis of adaptive living materials, with applications in seed coating to explore agricultural uses. Field trials will be conducted in the second phase to test the technology’s real-world effectiveness. The goal is to develop modular seed coatings adaptable to diverse environments.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
