Antifungal activity of Zinc nitrate derived nano Zno fungicide synthesized from Trachyspermum ammi to control fruit rot disease of grapefruit

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is a widely grown citrus and its fruit is affected by a variety of biotic and abiotic stress. Keeping in view the hazardous effects of synthetic fungicides, the recent trend is shifting towards safer and eco-friendly control of fruit diseases. The present study was aimed to diagnose the fruit rot disease of grapefruit and its control by using zinc oxide green nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Fruit rot symptoms were observed in various grapefruit growing sites of Pakistan. Diseased samples were collected, and the disease-causing pathogen was isolated. Following Koch’s postulates, the isolated pathogen was identified as Rhizoctonia solani. For eco-friendly control of this disease, ZnO NPs were prepared in the seed extract of Trachyspermum ammi and characterized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of these NPs described the presence of stabilizing and reducing compounds such as phenols, aldehyde and vinyl ether, especially thymol (phenol). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed their crystalline nature and size (48.52 nm). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis elaborated the presence of major elements in the samples, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the morphology of bio fabricated NPs. ZnO NPs exhibited very good anti-fungal activity and the most significant fungal growth inhibition was observed at 1.0 mg/ml concentration of green NPs, in vitro and in vivo. These findings described that the bioactive constituents of T. ammi seed extract can effectively reduce and stabilize ZnO NPs. It is a cost-effective method to successfully control the fruit rot disease of grapefruit.The publication of the present work is supported by the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province (grant no. 2018JQ5218) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51809224), Top Young Talents of Shaanxi Special Support Program. The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to University of Tabuk, for the technical support for this study

Synthesis of aryl pyrazole via Suzuki coupling reaction, in vitro mushroom tyrosinase enzyme inhibition assay and in silico comparative molecular docking analysis with Kojic acid

Aryl pyrazoles are well recognized class of heterocyclic compounds found in several commercially available drugs. Owing to their significance in medicinal chemistry, in this current account we have synthesized a series of suitably substituted aryl pyrazole by employing Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. All compounds were evaluated for inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase enzyme both in vitro and in silico. Compound 3f (IC 50 = 1.568 ± 0.01 µM) showed relatively better potential compared to reference kojic acid (IC 50 = 16.051 ± 1.27 µM). A comparative docking studies showed that compound 3f have maximum binding affinity against mushroom tyrosinase (PDBID: 2Y9X) with binding energy value (−6.90 kcal/mol) as compared to Kojic acid. The 4-methoxy group in compound 3f shows 100% interaction with Cu. Compound 3f displayed hydrogen binding interaction with His61 and His94 at distance of 1.71 and 1.74 Å which might be responsible for higher activity compared to Kojic acid.Fil: Channar, Pervaiz Ali. Quaid-i-azam University; PakistánFil: Saeed, Aamer. Quaid-i-azam University; PakistánFil: Larik, Fayaz Ali. Quaid-i-azam University; PakistánFil: Batool, Bakhtawar. Quaid-i-azam University; PakistánFil: Kalsoom, Saima. International Islamic University Islamabad; PakistánFil: Hasan, M.M.. Pakistan Institute Of Engineering And Applied Sciences; PakistánFil: Erben, Mauricio Federico. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de la Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: El-Seedi, Hesham R.. Uppsala Biomedicinska Centrum;Fil: Ali, Musrat. Quaid-i-azam University; PakistánFil: Ashraf, Zaman. Allama Iqbal Open University; Pakistá

Diagnosis and Control of Brown Leaf Spot of Kiwi (<i>Actinidia deliciosa</i>) Using Biochar-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite (MB-ZnO) as a Non-Toxic Bio-Fungicides

Kiwi is one of the best natural sources of vitamin C and has wide applications. During October–November 2021, small brown spots were examined on the Kiwi leaves. The diseased leaf samples were collected and placed on potato dextrose agar nutrient media for diagnosis. Morphological, anatomical, and molecular studies revealed this disease-causing agent to be Rhizopus oryzae. Molecular characterizations of the isolated pathogen were performed by using actin translation elongation factor (EF-1α) and ribosomal deoxyribose nucleotide inter transcribed sequence (rDNA ITS ITS1/ITS4) and elongation factors (EFl-F/EFl-R) primers. A BLAST study of the resultant ITS1/ITS4 sequence showed > 99% resemblance with R. oryzae (MT603964.1), while the EF-1α sequence revealed 100% similarity with translation elongation factor-1α gene of R. oryzae (MK510718.1). The obtained ITS1/ITS4 sequence was submitted to NCBI (MW603842.1). Koch’s postulates established the pathogenicity of isolated R. oryzae and proved it to be the brown spot pathogen of Kiwi. For the environmentally-friendly management of Kiwi leaf spot, maize biochar-Zinc Oxide (MB-ZnO) nanocomposite was used. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermo gravitational analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. After successful preparation, MB-ZnO was assessed for its possible antifungal potential against R. oryzae. MB-ZnO displayed substantial growth inhibition, and the highest growth inhibition (79%) was observed at a 19 mg/mL dose rate of nanoparticles. These excellent findings propose that Ball-milled synthesis is a fast, economical, and environmentally friendly method for nanocomposite in the near future. The nanocomposite is used as a nominal substitute for chemical fungicides

First Report of Fruit Rot of Cherry and Its Control Using Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Synthesized in Calotropis procera

Cherry is a fleshy drupe, and it is grown in temperate regions of the world. It is perishable, and several biotic and abiotic factors affect its yield. During April&ndash;May 2021, a severe fruit rot of cherry was observed in Swat and adjacent areas. Diseased fruit samples were collected, and the disease-causing pathogen was isolated on PDA. Subsequent morphological, microscopic, and molecular analyses identified the isolated pathogen as Aspergillus flavus. For the control of the fruit rot disease of cherry, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) were synthesized in the leaf extract of Calotropis procera and characterized. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of synthesized Fe2O3 NPs showed the presence of capping and stabilizing agents such as alcohols, aldehydes, and halo compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis verified the form and size (32 nm) of Fe2O3 NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the spinal-shaped morphology of synthesized Fe2O3 NPs while X-ray diffraction (EDX) analysis displayed the occurrence of main elements in the samples. After successful preparation and characterization of NPs, their antifungal activity against A. flavus was determined by poison technique. Based on in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity analyses, it was observed that 1.0 mg/mL concentration of Fe2O3 can effectively inhibit the growth of fungal mycelia and decrease the incidence of fruit rot of cherry. The results confirmed ecofriendly fungicidal role of Fe2O3 and suggested that their large-scale application in the field to replace toxic chemical fungicides

Biocontrol of Fruit Rot of Litchi chinensis Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized in Azadirachta indica

Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a famous fruit species of tropical and subtropical regions of the world and many biotic and abiotic stresses affect its yield. In this study, lychee fruit rot has been observed and its incidence has been controlled by using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Diseased lychee fruits were collected and diagnosed to identify disease-causing pathogens. Morphological appearance, microscopic observation, and sequence analysis of the amplified ITS region identified this isolated pathogen as Aspergillus niger. To control this problem, ZnO NPs were prepared in the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. Before their antifungal activity, ZnO NPs were characterized using sophisticated approaches. FTIR revealed the presence of reducing and stabilizing molecules on ZnO NPs including alcohol, carboxylic acid, alkyl halide, amine, and alkyl halide. Crystalline nature and average size (29.024 nm) of synthesized ZnO NPs were described by X-ray diffraction. EDX analysis depicted the mass percentage of zinc (30.15%) and oxygen (14.90%). SEM analysis displayed the irregular shape of nanoparticles and confirmed the nano-size of ZnO NPs. Maximum mycelial growth inhibition (70.5%) was observed at 1.0 mg/mL concentration of ZnO NPs in vitro. In in-vivo disease-control analysis, maximum control of lychee fruit rot disease was observed at the same concentration. These results reveal the potential use of these ZnO NPs on a larger scale to replace hazardous chemical fungicides

Preservation and Recovery of Metal-Tolerant Fungi from Industrial Soil and Their Application to Improve Germination and Growth of Wheat

Heavy metals contaminate soil and adversely affect plant growth. These soils contain different fungi and bacteria which exhibit metal tolerance and work as bioremediation agents to detoxify polluted soils. In the present study, polluted soil samples were collected to estimate the contamination of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). From this contaminated soil, metal tolerant fungi were isolated and characterized. Copper and cadmium were found in a range of 190.2&ndash;300.4 mg/kg and 46.8&ndash;56.1 mg/kg, respectively. For the isolation of metal tolerant fungi, soil dilutions were made in water and inoculated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungal growth was observed on PDA and successive screening resulted in the isolation of four multi-metal tolerant fungal species, including Penicillim oxalicum, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma harzianum. Sequencing of 18S rRNA genes of isolated fungi also efficiently identified them. To reveal minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), these fungi were exposed to increasing concentrations of cadmium and copper chlorides (100 to 1000 ppm) and a variable MIC range of 400 ppm to 1000 ppm was estimated. Based on tolerance index analysis, F. solani was found to be resistant at 1 mM copper, while P. oxalicum was the most tolerant species under cadmium stress. F. solani and P. oxalicum demonstrated the highest biosorption capacity of Cu and Cd, respectively. Both metals negatively affected wheat seedlings in a pot experiment, while the treatment of both F. solani and P. oxalicum positively influenced the germination and growth of wheat. Based on these observations, it could be inferred that F. solani and P. oxalicum can be used for the myco-remediation of Cu and Cd, respectively

Preservation and Recovery of Metal-Tolerant Fungi from Industrial Soil and Their Application to Improve Germination and Growth of Wheat

Heavy metals contaminate soil and adversely affect plant growth. These soils contain different fungi and bacteria which exhibit metal tolerance and work as bioremediation agents to detoxify polluted soils. In the present study, polluted soil samples were collected to estimate the contamination of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). From this contaminated soil, metal tolerant fungi were isolated and characterized. Copper and cadmium were found in a range of 190.2–300.4 mg/kg and 46.8–56.1 mg/kg, respectively. For the isolation of metal tolerant fungi, soil dilutions were made in water and inoculated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungal growth was observed on PDA and successive screening resulted in the isolation of four multi-metal tolerant fungal species, including Penicillim oxalicum, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma harzianum. Sequencing of 18S rRNA genes of isolated fungi also efficiently identified them. To reveal minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), these fungi were exposed to increasing concentrations of cadmium and copper chlorides (100 to 1000 ppm) and a variable MIC range of 400 ppm to 1000 ppm was estimated. Based on tolerance index analysis, F. solani was found to be resistant at 1 mM copper, while P. oxalicum was the most tolerant species under cadmium stress. F. solani and P. oxalicum demonstrated the highest biosorption capacity of Cu and Cd, respectively. Both metals negatively affected wheat seedlings in a pot experiment, while the treatment of both F. solani and P. oxalicum positively influenced the germination and growth of wheat. Based on these observations, it could be inferred that F. solani and P. oxalicum can be used for the myco-remediation of Cu and Cd, respectively