Abstract
A novel method of management of maize pathogens in vitro and in vivo using newly synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) has been documented in this study. CuNPs have been synthesized using CuSO4 as a precursor, NaBH4 and ascorbic acid as a reducing agent, and polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG-8000) as a stabilizing agent. Characterization of CuNPs using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed the nanoparticles’ size range of 35–70 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the association of alcohol groups and allyl halides group with CuNPs. The synthesized CuNPs exhibited significant inhibition at 20 ppm of three pathogenic fungi namely Macrophomina phaseolina, Bipolaris maydis, and Fusarium verticillioides, and at 50 ppm against Rhizoctonia solani. Bactericidal property of CuNPs was evidenced against Erwinia carotovora and Ralstonia solanacearum at 30 ppm. Evaluation of CuNPs in vivo against two diseases viz., maydis leaf blight (MLB) and banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) culminated in a reduction in percent disease index (PDI). Seed treatment together with foliar spray @ 300 ppm of CuNPs resulted in a significant reduction of MLB. However, BLSB disease was reduced relatively less at the same aforesaid concentration nevertheless, it was evinced best in controlling BLSB disease. CuNPs were found inimical against beneficial fungi and bacteria. However, a positive effect was observed on soil enzyme activities namely dehydrogenase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase and maize seedling characters viz., shoot length, root length, number of roots per seedlings, fresh and dry weight.
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Acknowledgments
The first author is thankful to Post Graduate School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for receiving the research support. The authors acknowledge the support of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, and the Institute of Advanced Studies for Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, Assam.
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Lham Dorjee carried out the investigation, synthesized nanoparticles, executed lab and net house experiments, generated data, and wrote the manuscript. Robin Gogoi was involved in the conceptualization, supervision, writing, and review of the final draft. Deeba Kamil helped in data analysis and interpretation. Rajesh Kumar supervised nanoparticle synthesis and helped in the interpretation of results. Ankita Verma assisted in nanoparticle synthesis.
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Dorjee, L., Gogoi, R., Kamil, D. et al. Copper nanoparticles hold promise in the effective management of maize diseases without impairing environmental health. Phytoparasitica 51, 593–619 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-023-01060-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-023-01060-3