Open AccessNanomaterial Fungicides: In Vitro and In Vivo Antimycotic Activity of Cobalt and Nickel Nanoferrites on Phytopathogenic Fungi
Author(s) -
Sharma Parul,
Sharma Adikshita,
Sharma Monica,
Bhalla Nikhil,
Estrela Pedro,
Jain Aditya,
Thakur Preeti,
Thakur Atul
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
global challenges
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-6646
DOI - 10.1002/gch2.201700041
Subject(s) - fungicide , cobalt , fusarium oxysporum , context (archaeology) , nickel , nanoparticle , chemistry , materials science , biology , agronomy , botany , nanotechnology , metallurgy , paleontology
Recent advances in engineering lead to the fabrication of nanomaterials with unique properties targeted toward specific applications. The use of nanotechnology in agriculture, in particular for plant protection and production, is an under‐explored area in the research community. Fungal diseases are one of the leading causes of crop destruction and, in this context, the antifungal effect of nanoparticles of cobalt and nickel ferrite against phytopathogenic fungi is reported here. As a proof of concept, it is also shown how such nanoparticles can be used as fungicides in plants. The developed cobalt and nickel ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe 2 O 4 and NiFe 2 O 4 ) are successfully tested for antimycotic activity against three plant‐pathogenic fungi: Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , and Dematophora necatrix . In addition, it is also observed that these ferrite nanoparticles reduce the incidence of Fusarium wilt in capsicum. The study suggests that nanoparticles of CoFe 2 O 4 and NiFe 2 O 4 can be used as an effective fungicide in plant disease management.