Abstract
In this investigation, an alternate green-route based on myco-synthesised silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was evaluated to control plant disease to reduce the usage of synthetic chemicals. Here, we described biologically synthesised Ag NPs using the corn grain contaminant, Nigrospora oryzae, and were well-characterised by UV-visible spectrophotometer, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and particle size analyzer. The pathogenic behaviour of the Fusarium spp. were checked on Giza 86 and Giza 90 cultivars under greenhouse conditions. F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum exhibited high pathogenecity against Giza 90 and Giza 86 cultivars respectively. The antifungal activity of biosynthesised Ag NPs was evaluated against eight species of Fusaria causing damping-off of cotton seedlings. In vitro treatments with different concentrations of Ag NPs were achieved on Czapek Dox agar and Potato dextrose agar plates. Fungal growth was drastically retarded from 25 to 200 ppm of Ag NPs interaction. The antifungal activity of Ag NPs against the Fusarium spp. was clearly proven.