Effectiveness of Silver Nanoparticles against Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Tomato under Greenhouse Conditions

Ahmed Hammad Nour El-Deen,Bahig Ahmed El-Deeb

doi:10.5539/jas.v10n2p148

Abstract

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is the most economically important plant parasitic nematode species that cause serious damage to most agricultural crops including tomato worldwide. Nematicides do not provide long-term suppression of root-knot nematodes, and environmental and human health concerns are resulting in increased restrictions on their use. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mM as a potential nematicide on M. incognita infecting tomato. AgNP was biologically and chemically synthesized by a reaction of silver nitrate with ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizomes aqueous extract and sodium borohydride, respectively. Results indicated that application of AgNPs improved plant growth and reduced nematode infection in comparison to silver nitrate and control treatments. The highest increment of fresh weight as well as the lowest numbers of galls and egg-masses was obtained when tomato plants was treated with AgNP produced by ginger extract at 1 mM.

Highlights

Plant parasitic nematodes caused significant damage to most agricultural crops reducing the yield and quality, causing loses valued at over $75 billion per annum in the tropical and sub-tropics (Luc et al, 2005)
Visual observation of the reaction of plant extract or sodium borohydride with silver nitrate at room temperature showed a color change from colorless to yellowish or dark brown whereas no color change could be demonstrated in AgNO3 alone (Figure 1)
UV-Vis spectrum of the biosynthesis or chemical AgNPs is shown in the Figures 2 and 3, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Plant parasitic nematodes caused significant damage to most agricultural crops reducing the yield and quality, causing loses valued at over $75 billion per annum in the tropical and sub-tropics (Luc et al, 2005). Crop loss attributed to these pests could be estimated by 20.6% (Sasser & Freckman, 1987). Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne species) have broad host plant specificity and are responsible for > US$125 billion annually in world-wide crop losses (Chitwood, 2003). M. arenaria, M. hapla, M. javanica and M. incognita are considered to be the most popular species that caused more than 90% of the estimated damages, they affected major both field and vegetable crops. The most damaging of all root-knot nematodes is the southern RKN, M. incognita, which infects almost all agricultural plants including tomato. Due to environmental restrictions on nematicidal use for controlling plant parasitic nematodes, biological control measures have gained increasing interest; there is still a need for alternative compounds for effective nematode control to be developed (Noling & Becker, 1994)

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