** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO DEVELOP TUNABLE, BIODEGRADABLE, BIO-DERIVED CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATIONS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY DELIVER CUS AS A CONTACT OR SYSTEMIC AGROCHEMICAL FOR PLANT DISEASE MANAGEMENT. COPPER IS TRADITIONALLY USED AS A CONTACT FUNGICIDE; TO IMPROVEITS ABILITY TO INCREASE THE NATURAL DEFENSE MECHANISMS OF PLANTS PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED, SYSTEMIC DELIVERY OF CU WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. COMBINING CONTACT AND SYSTEMIC (AND COMBINING CU AND S) WILL BE A POWERFULSTRATEGY TO FIGHT FUNGAL/BACTERIAL DISEASES MORE EFFICIENTLY BY USING SEVERAL MODES OF ACTION AND TIMING FACILITATED BY THE NANODELIVERY SYSTEM. TO MEET THIS GOAL,A LIGNIN-BASEDPOLYMER WILL BE SYNTHESIZED AND ASSEMBLED INTO LIGNIN NANOPARTICLES (LNPS) OF CONTROLLED PROPERTIES. THE LNPS WILL BE TESTED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO DELIVERY CUS TO THE ROOTS/LEAVES AS A CONTACT OR SYSTEMIC AGROCHEMICAL. THOSE LNPS DEEMED MOST EFFICIENT AS DELIVERY SYSTEMS ABLE TO 1. ADHERE TO THE PLANT TISSUE WHERE APPLIED (LEAVES OR ROOTS) OR 2. ABLE TO TRANSLOCATE FROM ONE TISSUE TO ANOTHER WILL BE FURTHER TESTED. THEIR IMPACT ON PLANT AND INSECT HEALTH, AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND IMPACT WILL BE ASSESSED.