Synthesis and in vitro antifungal efficacy of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles against pathogenic fungi of tomato.

Cu-chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized and evaluated for their growth promotory and antifungal efficacy in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill). Physico-chemical characterization of the developed Cu-chitosan nanoparticles was carried out by DLS, FTIR, TEM, SEM-EDS and AAS. The study highlighted the stability and porous nature of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles. Laboratory synthesized nanoparticles showed substantial growth promotory effect on tomato seed germination, seedling length, fresh and dry weight at 0.08, 0.10 and 0.12% level. At 0.12% concentration these nanoparticles caused 70.5 and 73.5% inhibition of mycelia growth and 61.5 and 83.0% inhibition of spore germination in Alternaria solani and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively, in an in vitro model. In pot experiments, 0.12% concentration of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles was found most effective in percentage efficacy of disease control (PEDC) in tomato plants with the values of 87.7% in early blight and 61.1% in Fusarium wilt. The overall results confirm the significant growth promotory as well as antifungal capabilities of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles. Our model demonstrated the synthesis of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles and open up the possibility to use against fungal disease at field level. Further, developed porous nanomaterials could be exploited for delivery of agrochemicals.