ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW APPLICATIONS OF CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS FOR PLANT AGRICULTURE: GREEN ALTERNATIVE TO CARBON NANOTUBES

The major goal of the proposed research is the evaluation of the possibilities to use cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as an efficient and safe delivery carrier for chemicals and biomolecules to plants and plant cells. We hypothesize that CNC will efficiently overcome plant cell walls and deliver nucleic acids (DNA) and plant growth regulators to plant cells. To achieve our goal, we have three specific objectives: 1) Develop schemes for modifying cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) that enable them to deliver desired products into the plant cell; 2) Investigate response of plants on the application of CNC; 3) Assess the potential of CNC as carriers for delivery of chemicals and biomolecules to plant cells.