Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pomegranate and Orange Peel Extracts and Their Antifungal Activity against Alternaria solani, the Causal Agent of Early Blight Disease of Tomato.

Saad A. Alamri,Mohamed Hashem,Yasser S. Mostafa,Zakaria A. Baka,Sulaiman A. Alrumman

doi:10.3390/plants10112363

Saad A. Alamri, Mohamed Hashem + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112363

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Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by pomegranate and orange peel extracts using a low concentration of AgNO3 solution to controlearly blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani. The pathogen was isolated from infected tomato plants growing in different areas of Saudi Arabia. The isolates of this pathogen were morphologically and molecularly identified. Extracts from peels of pomegranate and orange fruits effectively developed a simple, quick, eco-friendly and economical method through a synthesis of AgNPs as antifungal agents against A. solani. Phenolic content in the pomegranate peel extract was greater than orange peel extract. Phenolic compounds showed a variation of both peel extracts as identified and quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The phenolic composition displayed variability as the pomegranate peel extract exhibited an exorbitant amount of Quercitrin (23.62 mg/g DW), while orange peel extract recorded a high amount of Chlorogenic acid (5.92 mg/g DW). Biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV- visible spectroscopy which recorded an average wavelength of 437 nm and 450 nm for pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy exhibited 32x73.24, 2223.71, 2047.29 and 1972.46 cm−1, and 3260.70, 1634.62, 1376.62 and 1243.76 cm−1 for pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shape of nanoparticles. Zetasizer analysis presented negative charge values; −16.9 and −19.5 mV with average particle sizes 8 and 14 nm fin case of pomegranate and orange peels, respectively. In vitro, antifungal assay was done to estimate the possibility of biosynthesized AgNPs and crude extracts of fruit peels to reduce the mycelial growth of A. solani. AgNPs displayed more fungal mycelial inhibition than crude extracts of two peels and AgNO3. We recommend the use of AgNPs synthesized from fruit peels for controlling fungal plant pathogens and may be applied broadly and safely in place by using the chemical fungicides, which display high toxicity for humans.

Highlights

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), family Solanaceae considered as a very important vegetable in the world, including Saudi Arabia
Blight, started by Alternaria solani (Ell. and Mart.) Jones and Grout. is well-known foliar disease that causes yield losses equal to 70% [1]. Management of this disease depends on several uses of synthesized fungicides through late stages of tomato production [2]
The chief aim of this work was to synthesize AgPNs by pomegranate and orange peel extracts using the lowest concentration of AgNO3 solution for controlling the fungal pathogen, A. solani, causing the early blight of tomato plants

Summary

Introduction

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), family Solanaceae considered as a very important vegetable in the world, including Saudi Arabia. Is well-known foliar disease that causes yield losses equal to 70% [1]. Management of this disease depends on several uses of synthesized fungicides through late stages of tomato production [2]. By using chemical pesticides to control, plant diseases are limited due to their toxicity, prolonged periods of degradation and pollution of the environment. Between these options are biological plant products, which are bio-efficacious, biodegradable, cost-effective and safe for the environment. Many investigators used biological plant products to control plant pathogens [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]

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