A New Composition of Nanosized Silica-Silver for Control of Various Plant Diseases

TLDR

The study evaluated the efficacy of nanosized silica‑silver in controlling plant pathogens. Nanosized silica‑silver was synthesized by combining silver salt, silicate, and a water‑soluble polymer, then exposing the mixture to radiation to form nano‑silver particles embedded in silica. The product exhibited strong antifungal activity at low concentrations (3 ppm), effectively controlled powdery mildew on pumpkin at 0.3 ppm in field and greenhouse trials, eliminated pathogens within three days while sparing beneficial bacteria at 10 ppm, and proved effective against multiple plant fungal diseases.

Abstract

The present study addressed the efficacy of nanosized silica-silver for controlling plant pathogenic microorganisms. The nanosized silica-silver consisted of nano-silver combined with silica molecules and water soluble polymer, prepared by exposing a solution including silver salt, silicate and water soluble polymer to radioactive rays. The nanosized silica-silver showed antifungal activity against the tested phytopathogenic fungi at 3.0 ppm with varied degrees. In contrast, a number of beneficial bacteria or plant pathogenic bacteria were not significantly affected at 10 ppm level but completely inhibited by 100 ppm of nanosized silicasilver. Among the tested plant pathogenic fungi, the new product effectively controlled powdery mildews of pumpkin at 0.3 ppm in both field and greenhouse tests. The pathogens disappeared from the infected leaves 3 days after spray and the plants remained healthy thereafter. Our results suggested that the product developed in this study was effective in controlling various plant fungal diseases.