Sustainable Protocols for Cellulose Nanocrystals Synthesis from Tomato Waste and Their Antimicrobial Properties against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato

Abstract

Nanotechnology is rapidly gaining ground in crop protection, with the growing quest for sustainable nanopesticides and nanocarriers for plant pathogen management. Among them, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are emerging as innovative agrofood-waste-derived antimicrobial materials. In this work, new chemical and enzymatic CNC extraction methods from tomato harvest residues were evaluated. The obtained nanomaterials were characterized and tested for their antimicrobial properties on Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto), the causal agent of bacterial speck disease on tomato. Both protocols were efficient. The enzymatic extraction method was greener, producing purer CNC at slightly lower yield. The obtained CNC, although they weakly inhibited cell growth and did not promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, provoked bacterial aggregation and the inhibition of biofilm production and swimming motility. Both protocols produced CNC with similar morpho-chemical features, as well as promising antimicrobial activity against plant bacterial pathogens, suggesting their potential role in sustainable crop protection strategies. The new protocols could be a valuable alternative to conventional methods.