Effect of synthetic route in particle size distribution of zinc oxide, silver and carbon nanoparticles and its role in controlling phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria solani

Abstract

There are plethoras of studies on antifungal effect of nanomaterials. But the effect of synthetic route on physico-chemical characteristics of nanoparticles and its corresponding effect on antifungal effect are not properly investigated. Though green synthesis is considered to be more eco-friendly and economical, mostly resultant nanomaterials have much broader size range in comparison with those prepared chemically. In this study three nanoparticles – zinc oxide, silver and carbon were prepared both by chemical and green routes and their efficacy was evaluated in controlling Alternaria solani, a phytopathogenic fungus. The average particle size of both zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles was smaller in case of chemical synthesis and these particles were much more potent antifungal agent than those particles that were synthesised by green route. In our study, there was no effect of synthetic route in size and shape of carbon nanoparticles and these particles were mostly not effective against A. solani.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2021.1936868 .

Keywords:

• Nanocide
• green synthesis
• phytopathogen
• antifungal
• sustainable agriculture

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Authors would like to thank Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology; Science and Engineering Research Board, Govt. of India (DST) [Grant Numbers – YSS/2015/000152 & DST/NM/NS/2018/27] for their financial support.