Title : Nanotechnology as a promising tool in the management of Fusarium oxysporum causing Fusarium wilt of cucurbits through green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Abstract:
Nanotechnology is a novel branch that has revolutionized the world through its applications in agriculture including plant disease management. It has turned out to be a promising tool to control several important plant diseases of which Fusarium wilt disease is of utmost importance. The causal pathogen of Fusarium wilt disease i.e. Fusarium oxysporum is considered as one of the most destructive plant pathogens. In cucurbits, Fusarium oxysporum causes huge losses both in terms of quantity as well as quality. Current plant disease management practices depend mostly on toxic chemicals which are potentially harmful to humans as well as environment. Nanotechnology can offer advantages over chemical fungicides to control the plant diseases and help in contributing towards reducing the chemical input in agriculture which can pose positive environmental impacts. Fusarium oxysporum is a soil and seed borne pathogenic fungus which is very difficult to manage. Several nanoparticles (NPs) such as metal and metal oxides NPs of titanium, silver, copper, zinc, gold, etc. have been successfully evaluated for antifungal activity against the pathogen. Nowadays, more focus has been put on the green synthesis of NPs as it is environmental friendly, inexpensive, stable, and effective too. In view of the eco-friendly and effective effects of NPs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been synthesized from the mung bean plants through green synthesis approach and antifungal efficacy of the synthesized TiO2 NPs was tested at several concentrations against Fusarium oxysporum causing Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. 100 ppm proved to be the best concentration of TiO2 NPs which gave maximum suppression (70%) of the wilt pathogen which evidenced its potential in the control of this destructive pathogen causing Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. Hence, the synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles gave a promising result as a fungicidal activity and could be a novel option of future new generation fungicide which can be environmental friendly too.
