Mycosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation as Insecticidal Against the Sunn Pest Eurygaster testudinaria in Vitro

Abstract

Fungi are used to synthesize metal nanoparticles such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) because of their specifications as lower toxicity and eco-friendly behavior. Extracellular mycosynthesis of Lecanicillium lecanii silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was performed, which was done by a redox reaction, where the filtrate crude of L. lecanii acts as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the formation of nanoparticles. The green synthesized AgNPs were evaluated as insecticidal against the adults of sunn pest Eurygaster testudinaria. The AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FITR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a characteristic absorption peak at 418.5 nm due to surface plasma resonance. FESEM analysis showed that synthesized AgNPs were semi-spherical with an average size of 39.45 nm. The AgNPs showed strong activity in mortality of adults of E. testudinaria under conditions during different periods of time to recorded 100% at concentration 100 ppm compared with 0.00% in control treatment after 10 days from treatment.