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Agronomy Best Paper Award 2022

Analysis of institutional authors

González-Garcıá VAuthor

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March 29, 2022
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Lignin–Chitosan Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Bioactive Natural Products against Wood-Decay Phytopathogens

Publicated to:Agronomy-Basel. 12 (2): 461- - 2022-02-01 12(2), DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12020461

Authors: Sanchez-Hernandez, Eva; Langa-Lomba, Natalia; Gonzalez-Garcia, Vicente; Casanova-Gascon, Jose; Martin-Gil, Jesus; Santiago-Aliste, Alberto; Torres-Sanchez, Sergio; Martin-Ramos, Pablo

Affiliations

Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2). Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón - Author
Sistemas Agrícolas, Forestales y Medio Ambiente. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón - Author
Univ Valladolid, Dept Agr & Forestry Engn, ETSIIAA, Ave Madrid 44, Palencia 34004, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Inst Univ Invest Ciencias Ambient Aragon IUCA, EPS, Carretera Cuarte S-N, Huesca 22071, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Plant Protect Unit, Inst Agroalimentario Aragon IA2, CITA, Avda Montanana 930, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Universidad de Valladolid - Author
Universidad de Zaragoza - Author
Viñas del Vero S.A - Author
Vinas Vero SA, Carretera Nacl 123 Km 3-7, Barbastro 22300, Spain - Author
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Abstract

The use of nanocarriers (NCs), i.e., nanomaterials capable of encapsulating drugs and releasing them selectively, is an emerging field in agriculture. In this study, the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo testing of biodegradable NCs loaded with natural bioactive products was investigated for the control of certain phytopathogens responsible for wood degradation. In particular, NCs based on methacrylated lignin and chitosan oligomers, loaded with extracts from Rubia tinctorum, Silybum marianum, Equisetum arvense, and Urtica dioica, were first assayed in vitro against Neofusicoccum parvum, an aggressive fungus that causes cankers and diebacks in numerous woody hosts around the world. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the most effective treatment was further explored against another fungal pathogen and two bacteria related to trunk diseases: Diplodia seriata, Xylophilus ampelinus, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, respectively. Subsequently, it was evaluated in field conditions, in which it was applied by endotherapy for the control of grapevine trunk diseases. In the in vitro mycelial growth inhibition tests, the NCs loaded with R. tinctorum resulted in EC90 concentrations of 65.8 and 91.0 µg·mL−1 against N. parvum and D. seriata, respectively. Concerning their antibacterial activity, a minimum inhibitory concentration of 37.5 µg·mL−1 was obtained for this treatment against both phytopathogens. Upon application via endotherapy on 20-year-old grapevines with clear esca and Botryosphaeria decay symptoms, no phytotoxicity effects were observed (according to SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements) and the sugar content of the grape juice was not affected either. Nonetheless, the treatment led to a noticeable decrease in foliar symptoms as well as a higher yield in the treated arms as compared to the control arms (3177 vs. 1932 g/arm), suggestive of high efficacy. Given the advantages in terms of controlled release and antimicrobial product savings, these biodegradable NCs loaded with natural extracts may deserve further research in large-scale field tests.

Keywords

Equisetum arvenseGrapevine trunk diseasesNatural bioactive productsNcsRubia tinctorumSilybum marianumUrtica dioica

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Agronomy-Basel due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 16/88, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agronomy.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 3.19. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 3.1 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 9.29 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-16, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 24
  • Scopus: 27

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 36.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 39 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 20.05.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 6 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10532/5772