Impact of plasma membrane transport-enhancing pesticide adjuvant CX-01 on the pesticide use efficiency in crops

To improve pesticide utilization efficiency and achieve the dual goals of reduced application rates and improved efficacy, an indoor seed-dressing experiment was conducted using CX-01. CX-01 is a plasma membrane transport adjuvant formulated with the biostimulants amino acids, small peptides, and chitosan. The study investigated the effects of CX-01 on pesticide absorption in rice, maize, and wheat, while also evaluating its impact on physiological indices and key enzyme activities. Furthermore, field experiments were carried out to verify the practical application efficacy and compare the effects of spray application versus seed dressing on pesticide uptake following CX-01 addition. The results showed that, compared with the blank control, seed dressing with pesticides supplemented with CX-01 increased the chlorophyll content of rice, maize, and wheat by 16.5%-36.6%, plant height by 20.2%-43.5%, and fresh weight by 5.5%-48.4%. The activities of stress-resistance-related enzymes were also significantly enhanced, with peroxidase (POD) activity increasing by 46.0%-62.0% and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increasing by 23.5%-39.3%. In addition, pesticide accumulations in roots and shoots were significantly increased. The enhancement was most pronounced for thiamethoxam, a relatively hydrophilic pesticide, which showed increases ranging from 28.6% to 176.0%. The field trials in wheat confirmed CX-01 promoted pesticide accumulation in the aboveground parts of plants under both seed-dressing and spray application methods, thereby significantly improving pesticide utilization efficiency. These results indicate that CX-01 significantly enhances pesticide absorption and transport in crops, promotes crop growth, and boosts the activities of antioxidant enzymes in plants.