Benha Agriculture Students Develop a Safe Method to Protect Potatoes

A team of students from the Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha University, has succeeded in devising an innovative biological solution to combat brown rot disease—one of the most serious threats to potato crops and food security.
The project, supervised by Dr. Mohamed El-Habbak and Dr. Israa Dashtar, relied on natural extracts of hibiscus and the marine alga Ulva lactuca as safe alternatives to chemical pesticides, supporting the principles of smart and sustainable agriculture.
Results showed remarkable efficiency of hibiscus extract in reducing disease incidence and improving plant growth. The research also revealed the seaweed's ability to stimulate potatoes' natural immunity. Moreover, the team successfully employed it to produce nanoparticles that enhanced its effectiveness against Ralstonia solanacearum, the bacterium responsible for brown rot.
Findings confirmed that this project contributes to reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, increasing yield and quality, and boosting Egypt's potato export potential in line with international standards. It reflects Benha University's commitment to leveraging scientific research for the benefit of agriculture and the national economy.
The research team included students: Wesam Waddah, Mohamed Mostafa, Mohamed Ramadan, Nesma Mohamed, Bassant Ayad, and Esraa Essam, under the supervision of faculty members at Moshtohor.