BUAP researchers develop nanomaterials to combat tree pests

Researchers at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) have developed nanomaterials designed to combat pests in pine and oak trees. The compounds, composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and natural plant extracts, have demonstrated a 90 percent effectiveness rate against the borer worm—larvae from moths or beetles that consume tree nutrients—and the pathogen Diplodia sapinea, a fungus that causes progressive tree death.

The research team, led by Dr. José Albino Moreno Rodríguez, tested the inhibitor in the La Malinche protected reserve in Tlaxcala and at the BUAP Botanical Garden. The nanomaterials act as a biocompatible vaccine that does not cause adverse reactions in the trees; instead, they help improve the trees' condition. The study involved a multidisciplinary team from the departments of General Chemistry, Physical-Mathematical Sciences, and Chemical Engineering.