Antimycotic efficacy of Zinc nanoparticle on dark-spore forming Phytopathogenic fungi

Abstract

We investigated the antimycotic activity of zinc nanoparticle (ZnNP) against the dark-spore formers, Bipolaris sorokiniana and Alternaria brassicicola. This study is a primary investigation to observe whether ZnNP is effective to interfere with fungal metabolism in such phytopathogenic fungi. The efficacy of ZnNP was assessed using four different concentrations (10, 20, 50 and 100 ppm) on the spore germination as well as mycelial growth of these fungi. ZnNP at 20 ppm was effective to inhibit spore germination in B. sorokiniana. However, 10 ppm was found effective for A. brassicicola. Further, mycelial growth of both the fungi upon application of ZnNP at four different concentrations of 10, 20, 50 and 100 ppm was tested. Again, 100 ppm concentration of ZnNP was reported to inhibit the growth of both the pathogens significantly.