Antifungal activity of nanofungicide Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% against Macrophomina phaseolina

This study was aimed to develop the nanoform of a commercial fungicide Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) with broad spectrum of action for improving its antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina. The fungicide commercially available as Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) was converted into its nanoform using ball milling method and assessed for its efficacy against the soil borne fungal pathogen M. phaseolina at various concentrations, namely 5, 10, 15, and 25 ppm using poisoned food technique. Nanoform of the fungicide was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). The average particle size of nano Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) was about 108 nm. Fungicidal potential of nanoform was better in comparison to the conventional ones. Nanoform of the fungicide was effective at 10 ppm and it exerted hyphal abnormality, hyphal lysis and abnormality of sclerotial formation on M. phaseolina when tested under in vitro than control. This study suggests the possibility to enhance the antifungal activity of fungicide Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG) towards the control of M. phaseolina.   Key words:  Antifungal, nanoformulations, chilli, Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% (75 WG), Macrophomina phaseolina.