Fire blight, a disease of apple and pear trees, results in over $100 million losses annually in the U.S. And is caused by the bacteria erwinia amylovora

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station $728,000 on June 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) to develop nanotechnology-based solutions for fire blight disease control in apple and pear trees.

The project develops nanocarrier systems—nanoclay or nanosilica loaded with antibacterial essential oils—as alternatives to antibiotic spraying, which faces resistance and sustainability constraints. Preliminary research demonstrates that oregano oil encapsulated in nanoclay achieves efficacy comparable to antibiotics in laboratory and field tests. The work encompasses three core activities: developing nanocarrier systems for essential oils, evaluating their performance in vitro and in field trials, and investigating disease control mechanisms. The long-term objective is to create sustainable essential oil-based nanocomposites applicable to fire blight and adaptable to other plant pathogens.

The award funds work performed in New Haven, Connecticut, with performance spanning from June 15, 2026, through June 14, 2029. This is a project grant, a standard assistance type under AFRI.

Current control relies on spraying antibiotics, which is unsustainable due to resistance development and potential exposure to consumers. Few alternatives exist. This project will develop natural, nanotechnology-based solutions using nanoclay or nanosilica loaded with antibacterial essential oils. Preliminary results show that oregano oil encapsulated in nanoclay can reduce fire blight infection in laboratory and field tests, with efficacy comparable to antibiotics. This project will: (1) develop nanocarrier systems for essential oils, (2) evaluate their performance in vitro and in field trials, and (3) investigate how IT works to control disease. The long-term goal is to create sustainable essential oil-based nanocomposites that provide an environmentally friendly platform for fire blight control and could be adapted to manage other plant pathogens, supporting nanotechnology-enabled solutions for sustainable agriculture.