Green-fabricated silver nanoparticles from Quercus incana leaf extract to control the early blight of tomatoes caused by Alternaria solani

• Published in: BMC plant biology 2024-04, Vol.24 (1), p.302-302, Article 302
• Main Authors: Khatoon, Javaria, Mehmood, Ansar, Khalid, Abd Ur Rehman, Khan, Muhammad Abdul Rauf, Ahmad, Khawaja Shafique, Amjad, Muhammad Shoaib, Bashir, Urooj, Raffi, Muhammad, Proćków, Jarosław
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agrochemicals; Alternaria solani; Alternative technology; Analysis; Antifungal; Antifungal activity; Antifungal agents; antifungal properties; Antimicrobial agents; Blight; Chemicals; cost effectiveness; Disease control; Diseases and pests; Early blight; Early blight of tomatoes; electron microscopy; Fourier analysis; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Fungal diseases; Fungal diseases of plants; Fungi; Fungicides; Genetic aspects; Green fabrication; Growth; Health aspects; Infection; Infection control; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; International economic relations; leaf extracts; Leaves; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Microorganisms; Morphology; Nanoparticles; nanosilver; Pathogens; Pesticides; physicochemical properties; Plant diseases; Plant extracts; Potatoes; Prevention; Quercus incana; Quercus leucotrichophora; Risk factors; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; Silver nanoparticles; Spectrometry; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Tomatoes; ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy; Vegetable industry; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 1471-2229; 1471-2229
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05008-5

Early blight (EB) of Tomatoes, caused by Alternaria solani, is a serious fungal disease that adversely affects tomato production. Infection is characterized by dark lesions on leaves, stems, and fruits. Several agrochemicals can be used to control infection, these chemicals may disrupt environmental equilibrium. An alternative technology is needed to address this significant fungal threat. This study was designed to control the growth of EB in tomatoes caused by A. solani, using green-fabricated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). Ag-NPs were synthesized through an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach using leaf extract of Quercus incana Roxb. (Fagaceae). The physico-chemical characterization of the Ag-NPs was conducted through UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The Ag-NPs produced were round with a mean diameter of 27 nm. The antifungal activity of these Ag-NPs was assessed through in vitro Petri plate and in vitro leaflet assays against A. solani. The green fabricated Ag-NPs exhibited excellent antifungal activity in vitro at a concentration of 100 mg/l against A. solani, inhibiting growth by 98.27 ± 1.58% and 92.79 ± 1.33% during Petri plate and leaflet assays, respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests the practical application of green-fabricated Ag-NPs from Q. incana leaf extract against A. solani to effectively control EB disease in tomatoes.