Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and its efficacy against Rhizoctonia solani, a fungus causing sheath blight disease in rice

• Published in: PloS one 2024-06, Vol.19 (6), p.e0304817
• Main Authors: Islam, A K M Sahfiqul, Bhuiyan, Rejwan, Nihad, Sheikh Arafat Islam, Akter, Rumana, Khan, Mohammad Ashik Iqbal, Akter, Shamima, Islam, Md Rashidul, Khokon, Md Atiqur Rahman, Latif, Mohammad Abdul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal activity; Antifungal agents; Bangladesh; Biology and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Blight; Disease; Diseases; Effectiveness; Energy consumption; Engineering and Technology; Field emission; Field tests; Fourier transforms; Fungi; Fungicides; Fungicides, Industrial - chemistry; Fungicides, Industrial - pharmacology; Green Chemistry Technology; Health aspects; Health risks; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Leaves; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Methods; Microorganisms; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Oryza - microbiology; Oryza sativa; Particle size; Pathogens; Pesticides; Physical Sciences; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Diseases - prevention & control; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rankings; Research and Analysis Methods; Rhizoctonia - drug effects; Rhizoctonia solani; Rice; Scanning electron microscopy; Sheath blight; Sheaths; Silver; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Silver nitrate; Spectrophotometers; Synthesis; Transmission electron microscopes; X-Ray Diffraction; Zeta potential
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304817

Rice (Oryza sativa) stands as a crucial staple food worldwide, especially in Bangladesh, where it ranks as the third-largest producer. However, intensified cultivation has made high-yielding rice varieties susceptible to various biotic stresses, notably sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani, which inflicts significant yield losses annually. Traditional fungicides, though effective, pose environmental and health risks. To address this, nanotechnology emerges as a promising avenue, leveraging the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles like silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This study explored the green synthesis of AgNPs using Ipomoea carnea leaf extract and silver nitrate (AgNO3), and also examined their efficacy against sheath blight disease in rice. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized through various analytical techniques such as UV-vis spectrophotometer, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Particle size analyzer, Zeta potential, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for confirming their successful production and crystalline nature of nanoparticles. The results of UV-visible spectrophotometers revealed an absorption peak ranging from 421 to 434 nm, validated the synthesis of AgNPs in the solution. XRD, DLS, and TEM estimated AgNPs sizes were ~45 nm, 66.2nm, and 46.38 to 73.81 nm, respectively. SEM and FESEM demonstrated that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape. In vitro assays demonstrated the significant inhibitory effects of AgNPs on mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani, particularly at higher concentrations and pH levels. Further greenhouse and field experiments validated the antifungal efficacy of AgNPs against sheath blight disease in rice, exhibiting comparable effectiveness to commercial fungicides. The findings highlight the potential of AgNPs as a sustainable and effective alternative for managing rice sheath blight disease, offering a safer solution amidst environmental concerns associated with conventional fungicides.