This study aimed to develop and evaluate herbal oil-based organo-particles as bioactive agents to enhance growth and disease resistance in pepper (Capsicum annuum) seedlings. Organo-particles were synthesized from castor oil (CO), coconut oil (CnO), clove oil (ClO), cocoa oil (CcO), and thyme oil (TO) using an emulsion polymerization technique, yielding stable particles with nanoscale dimensions, uniform morphology, and high thermal resilience. The potential of these particles to mitigate root and collar rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum was assessed through the measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content as an oxidative stress marker. Pepper seedlings treated with the organo-particles exhibited enhanced defense responses and significantly elevated antioxidant activities, particularly SOD and APX, compared with untreated controls. These findings demonstrate that the synthesized organo-particles can effectively strengthen the antioxidative defense system of pepper plants under pathogen stress, highlighting their potential as sustainable, plant-protective agents in agricultural applications.
Tuba Erşen Dudu (Wed,) studied this question.