The Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center (BERC), Lead Partner of the EONANOBIOPS project, convened an online coordination meeting for Work Package 3 (WP3): Essential Oil (EO) Selection, Profiling and Bioactivity on 25 June 2026. The meeting, coordinated and chaired by Prof. Slim Tounsi from the Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), leader of WP3, brought together 21 representatives from the EONANOBIOPS project partners to review progress, discuss ongoing and upcoming research activities, address implementation challenges, and agree on the next steps for the coming implementation period.
The meeting reviewed the first-year achievements of WP3 and coordinated ongoing research activities. It also prepared the transition to the next phase of the project, during which the most promising essential oils identified against major tomato pests—including the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), and the tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici)—as well as important plant pathogens, will be developed into innovative nano-biopesticides for sustainable tomato crop protection.
Prof. Slim Tounsi presented the overall achievements of WP3, highlighting advances in the selection, characterization, and evaluation of essential oils with promising activity against major tomato pests and plant pathogens. He also reviewed progress in chemical profiling, extraction optimization, phytotoxicity, and safety assessments, while outlining the next steps towards selecting the most effective essential oils for nano-formulation.
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) presented progress in the extraction and GC-MS chemical characterization of essential oils from Mediterranean aromatic plants. The research identified key bioactive compounds and provided detailed phytochemical profiles to support the selection of the most promising candidates for the project’s nano-biopesticide formulations.
The University of Catania (UNICT) reported progress in the recovery and phytochemical characterization of essential oils obtained from candidate plants. Using complementary analytical techniques, including GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy, the team established detailed chemical profiles of the recovered oils and identified their principal volatile constituents. These results provide a sound scientific basis for selecting the most promising oils for further biological evaluation and nano-formulation development.
The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) presented promising laboratory results on the biological activity of essential oils against key tomato pests. Several essential oils demonstrated pesticidal (insecticidal/acaricidal) and repellent activities, while additional studies assessed synergistic combinations and their effects on beneficial insects, supporting the selection of potentially safe and effective candidates for nano-formulation.
The Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center (BERC) presented the results of comprehensive biological screening and chemical characterization of essential oils against major tomato bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as Tuta absoluta. BERC identified several essential oils with strong antimicrobial and insecticidal activity, together with phytotoxicity and safety assessments, enabling the selection of the most promising candidates for nano-formulation and biological validation under WP4.
An-Najah National University (ANNU) presented progress in evaluating essential oils against bacterial and fungal phytopathogens affecting tomato crops. Laboratory bioassays identified several essential oils with promising antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities, including candidates that demonstrated high efficacy while maintaining favorable plant safety profiles. These findings further strengthened the selection of complementary essential oils for nano-formulation and subsequent validation within the project.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to complete the remaining scientific evaluations, harmonize research methodologies across the project partners, and finalize the selection of the most promising essential oils for nano-formulation under Work Package 4 (WP4), reinforcing the consortium’s joint efforts to develop sustainable nano-biopesticides for protecting tomato crops from major pests and plant pathogens.