A recent study published in the journal ACS Agricultural Science & Technology investigates the hybridization of chitosan and silver nanoparticles to increase the antibacterial properties of tomato plants.
Study: Hybridization of chitosan and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles to improve antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Image credit: eugenegurkov / Shutterstock.com
Biogenic silver nanoparticles produced with chitosan ([email protected]) have remarkable biocompatibility, suggesting that these materials can be used as safe and efficient antibacterial bioagents for nano-skilled green agriculture.
Nanotechnology for agricultural applications
Nanotechnology has evolved as a highly efficient and remarkably successful technique to complement or even replace many traditional agricultural practices.
Metal nanomaterials and metal oxides have been extensively researched for infection control in a variety of disease systems. Many studies show that they are highly efficient in agricultural applications because of their bioactivity and bioavailability.
However, several of these compounds have uncharacteristic environmental consequences, which raises concerns about the biological hazards of these materials if they are widely used in food production.
In recent times there has been great interest in the creation of biological methods for the green production of metal nanoparticles.
Many experts argue that these nanomaterials are more efficient for agricultural purposes, both in terms of manufacturing and use. Several articles have recently been published on the use of organic substrates for the production of metal nanoparticles that offer cost-effective, biodegradable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly nanomaterials.
Biogenic silver nanoparticles (BSNP); Why are they important?
Biogenic silver nanoparticles have aroused considerable attention due to their exceptional antibacterial activity and relatively little cellular toxicity. These biogenic silver nanoparticles can be manufactured using environmentally friendly green chemistry methods.
Various biologically or chemically generated materials and ligands are used to adjust the shape, size, interface potential, and overall reactivity of silver nanoparticles. The production of silver nanoparticles from biodegradable materials can greatly improve their biocompatibility and antibacterial activity.
Understanding the importance of critical biological fractions related to silver nanoparticles will optimize production methods, leading to the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable crop protection solutions.
Chitosan-hybridized BSNPs for tomato plant growth
Biogenic silver nanoparticles and chitosan nanomaterials have previously been shown to exhibit unique antibacterial activities against specific pathogens of tomato plants. However, the efficacy and accumulated potential of bioactive silver nanoparticles and chitosan composite materials are not yet clear.
The tomato plant Solanum Lycopersicum is the second most important plant product after potatoes, and is severely affected by a wide variety of infections. To reduce crop damage, various chemical pesticides such as copper-based insecticides, carbendazim, bonide mancozeb, and chlorothalonil are used.
However, widespread use of pesticides creates serious environmental concern. Biologically produced nanoscale materials generated from microbial and plant extracts are highly biocompatible and can be used to sustainably enhance the antibacterial capabilities of tomato plants.
Highlights of the current study
In this study, researchers focused on creating bioactive silver nanoparticles made from polymers using T. Viride extracellular compounds and more chitosan hybridization.
Antibacterial efficacy was tested in vitro against a variety of plant pathogens. Greenhouse research with the tomato plant was also used to assess disease control capabilities through systematic research of biological and behavioral characteristics.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the hybridization of chitosan and T. Viride-derived chemicals coupled with silver nanoparticles.
Key developments and future prospects
Biogenic silver nanoparticles hybridized with chitosan ([email protected]) were found to limit the development of both fungal strains and bacterial pathogens.
Besides, [email protected] substantially decreased the frequency of diseases in greenhouse-grown tomato plants, leading to the relief of the biotic stress of numerous pathogens, as seen by the growth and therapeutic properties of the tomato plant. These advantages of the [email protected] can be related to biological compounds extracted from T. viride.
The use of biogenic silver nanoparticles in combination with chitosan resulted in a novel and long-lasting antibacterial agent against a broad spectrum of pathogens in the tomato plant.
These results suggest that biosynthesized nanoparticles constitute an important new area of research in the establishment of nanotechnology-based green crop protection techniques. The green silver nanoparticles created in this work offer great promise as a unique and green solution for crop protection, with the ability to significantly improve agricultural productivity and food security.
Reference
Giri, VP et al. (2022). Hybridization of chitosan and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles to enhance antimicrobial activity against tomato phytopathogens (Solanum Lycopersicum). ACS Agricultural Science and Technology. Available at:
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