Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXIV, Issue 2
Written by Florin Daniel LIPŞA, Elena Laura URSU, Andrei Mihai GAFENCU, Mihaela Andreea FLOREA, Ana CAZACU
Nanoparticles are implemented in different biotechnological fields, and there is interest in their use in plant biology. Nanotechnology can help overcome the persistent limitations of using conventional fungicides in the management of plant diseases, contributing to a safer environment. Hence, this study is focused on evaluating the behavior of nanoparticles on Rhizoctonia solani, which has a worldwide distribution and causing important economic losses to many agricultural and horticultural crop species. Rhizoctonia solani (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris) is an basidiomycetous fungus that is well-known as a soil borne plant pathogen, adapted to any soil type, and it lives in different forms on plant debris. Gold-chitosan and carbon nanoparticles were suspended in malt extract peptone agar nutritive media, and their antifungal activity was evaluated at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after incubation by measuring the diameter of fungal colonies. The results showed that gold-chitosan nanoparticles have antifungal properties against R. solani, the fungal colony growth diameter being reduced. Likewise, it was observed that the colony diameter was smaller when the nanoparticle concentration increased. However, the highest carbon nanoparticle concentration applied during the experiment’s execution was not able to inhibit R. solani growth.
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