Scientists from Saint Petersburg State University (SPbGU), together with colleagues from other scientific institutions, have developed a polymer coating for seeds based on chitosan and glyoxal.

Chitosan is a natural substance derived from chitin. Glyoxal is used in agriculture as an antibacterial agent. The scientists proposed encapsulating seeds with a safe polymer, which improves sowing qualities and stimulates germination.

The most effective method involved first placing the seeds in a chitosan solution, drying them, and then treating them with an aqueous glyoxal solution. The coating undergoes heat treatment, resulting in a chemically cross-linked polymer network based on chitosan with a small amount of glyoxal.

Experiments were conducted on soft wheat seeds of the Darya and Leningradskaya 6 varieties. The yield increased by more than one and a half times, and the risk of dangerous diseases decreased. According to the scientific publication, the productivity increase was 188%.

Maria Fokina, Associate Professor of the Department of Laser Chemistry and Laser Materials Science at SPbGU, noted that this is currently a laboratory technology that has shown initial results. Additional research on scaling is needed for industrial application.