Biosynthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Trichoderma atroviride for the biological control of Phomopsis canker disease in tea plants.

The biological way of metallic nanoparticles production using ecofriendly biocontrol agents are largely used to control many plant pathogenic microorganisms in agriculture. Hence, an attempt was made to evaluate the potential of suppressive activity of nanoparticles produced by an indigenous isolate, Trichoderma atroviride against a tea pathogenic fungus namely Phomopsis theae. The presence of biosynthesised nanoparticles was primarily confirmed through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis and was characterised using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis to delineate the size, shape and nature of particles. Further, Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed the functional biomolecules responsible for capping and stabilisation of nanoparticles. In addition, culture filtrate containing nanoparticles was subjected to invitro antifungal studies which revealed a considerable suppression on the growth of P. theae. The biosynthesised nanoparticles were found to be active even after 3 months which established and confirmed the stability. Finally, field experiments conducted with soil application and wound dressing of nanoparticles exhibited a significant reduction in canker size when plants treated with gold followed by silver nanoparticles. Similarly, improvement in leaf yield was noted in response to these treatments. The above study confirmed the efficacy of metallic nanoparticles in management of stem disease in tea plantation.