Synthesis of Cu-Chitosan nanocomposite against phytopathogenic fungi of maize and In-vitro antifungal efficacy

Abstract

Cu–chitosan nanocomposites were synthesized using ionic gelation method to investigate antifungal activity of Cu-chitosan nanocomposites against maize plant pathogen Fusarium verticillioides responsible for causingPost flowering stalk rot of maize. In the present investigation we have synthesized and characterized stable and monodisperse Cu-chitosan NCPs. For Physico-chemical characterization DLS, SEM-EDS and TEM was performed for the Cu-chitosan nanocomposites. DLS study revealed mean hydrodynamic diameter (295.4 nm), PDI (0.28) and zeta potential (+ 19.6 mV) of Cu-chitosan nanocomposites in aqueous. Formulation appeared to be uniform and sphere shaped under scanning electron microscopy. Highly porous internal structure of the nanocomposites was observed through transmission electron microscopy. Laboratory synthesized Cu-chitosan nanocomposites were found effective at 0.1 per cent concentration, at this concentration the nanocomposites caused 49.6 per cent growth inhibition of mycelial and 66% spore germination inhibition of F. verticillioides causing PFSR in maize, which was further elaborated by SEM studies. This study confirms the Cu-chitosan nanocomposites antifungal capability which could be further used as antifungal substitute for controlling phyto-pathogenic fungi in sustainable agriculture.