Abstract
Fusarium species are the primary fungal pathogen affecting agricultural foodstuffs both in crop yield and economic loss. Due to these problems, control of phytopathogenic fungi has become one of the critical problems around the World. Nanotechnology is a new technology with potential in many fields, including agriculture. This study focused on determining potential effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different nanosizes (3, 5, 8 and 10 nm) and at different concentrations (12.5–100 ppm) against phytopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) strains. The maximum antifungal activity was achieved by decreasing nanosize and increasing concentration of AgNPs. Mycelium growth abilities were decreased about 50%, 75% and 90% by AgNPs treatment with 3 nm sizes at 25 ppm, 37.5 ppm and 50 ppm concentrations, respectively. The productivity of fungal biomass in the liquid growth media was found to be too limited at the 25–37.5 ppm of AgNPs concentrations with all sizes. In addition, both septation number and dimensions of micro- and macroconidia were found to be gradually decreased with the application of silver nanoparticles. This work showed that the low concentration of AgNPs could be used as potential antifungal agents and applied for control of phytopathogens.
Highlights
Around the world, the yield and quality of agricultural products continue to be gradually decreased every year due to plant diseases
Previous studies showed that metallic nanoparticles such as silver, titanium, tin, zinc, and copper having high antimicrobial activity, low toxicity to humans, chemical stability, and inhibition activity against various phytopathogenic microorganisms [28,29,30]
In this work, the AgNPs nanoparticles at different concentrations with various nanometer sizes were tested against the six F. oxysporum FORL strains
Summary
The yield and quality of agricultural products continue to be gradually decreased every year due to plant diseases. Plant diseases are a worldwide problem related to food security. Fusarium is one of the most significant and widespread wilt pathogens causing diseases in agricultural products [1]. Fusarium species can produce mycotoxin in several kinds of cereals, fruits, and vegetables [2]. F. oxysporum known as potential plant pathogenic fungi have been able to grow and survive in soil and on various organic materials for a long time [3]. F. oxysporum is a soilborne pathogen that attacks the roots of the plant and considered as a limiting factor for tomato production [4, 5]
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