Investigation of the Impact of Mycogenic Titanium and Selenium Nanoparticles on Fusarium Wilt Infection of Tomato Plant

Authors: HELMY, EMAN - Al-Azhar University; SALAH, RANIA - Agricultural Research Center Of Egypt; EL-SHAZLY, MONA - Desert Research Center (DRC); ALQHTANI, ABDULMOHSEN - King Saud University; Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony; MOHAMMED, YOSRI - Al-Azhar University

Submitted to: Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2023
Publication Date: 9/3/2023
Citation: Helmy, E.A., Salah, R.A., El-Shazly, M.M., Alqhtani, A.H., Pokoo-Aikins, A., Mohammed, Y. 2023. Investigation of the Impact of Mycogenic Titanium and Selenium Nanoparticles on Fusarium Wilt Infection of Tomato Plant. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology. 2023;17(3):1800-1813. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.17.3.45.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.17.3.45

Interpretive Summary: Mold extract of Trichoderma harzianum was used to suppress tomato wilt (TW) disease. The latest scientific imaging techniques were used to identify nanoparticles (NP) and used to control TW. Under greenhouse conditions, the effectiveness of the NP produced by that mold were used against the pathogen responsible for the TW disease. The results showed that, the most efficient method for combating the pathogen that causes TW was in open fields and not in pot in greenhouse conditions. All tested NP treatments lowered TW disease in both the greenhouse and the open field. The NP reduced the disease severity by between 20.4% to 41.5%. The findings showed that NP can be applied to suppress the mold that cause the TW. F. oxysporum in a way that is safe for human and animal use. This is the first instance where the anti-microbial activity of biological metal NP have been used against the pathogen that causes TW.

Technical Abstract: We applied biosynthesized titanium and selenium nanoparticles, prepared using a fungal water extract of Trichoderma harzianum (T. harzianum), to eradicate tomota wilt infection. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis, and Transmission electron microscopy/X-ray diffraction (TEM/XRD) techniques were used to characterize the spherical metal nanoparticles, whose diameters were 16.0 nm for selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and 50.0 nm for titanium nanoparticles (TiNPs). This confirmed the efficient biosynthesis of the nanoparticles. Under greenhouse conditions, the effectiveness of TiNPs and SeNPs produced by nonpathogenic fungi (T. harzianum) against the pathogen responsible for the tomato wilt disease, Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), was studied. Based on the results, the most efficient method for combating the pathogen that causes tomato wilt was used in open fields, whereas pot studies were conducted in greenhouse conditions. All tested treatments considerably lowered tomato plant wilt disease in both the greenhouse and the open field. The disease severity was reduced by 20.4% using TiNPs at high concentrations of 150 ppm and by 41.5% using SeNPs. Compared to conventional antibiotics, the antibacterial activity assessment of the biosynthesized TiNPs and SeNPs revealed a significant effect versus pathogenic bacteria and fungi, with a negligible influence on the examined human and animal microflora. The findings showed that biosynthesized TiNPs and SeNPs can be applied to suppress the plant pathogen F. oxysporum in a way that is safe for the microflora of humans and animals. This is the first instance where the nanocidal activity of biological TiNPs and SeNPs has been used against the pathogen that causes tomato wilt.