Effect of zinc oxide, sulphur and silver nanoparticles against soybean rust Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd.

Soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. is one of the major constraints in the production of soybean. Nanotechnology is a new scientific approach that includes use of materials and equipment capable of using physical and chemical properties of a substance at molecular level to explore the biological and material worlds in nanometer-scale and use it in various carriers from medicine to agriculture. Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the most innovative scientific field in agriculture. Among various synthesis methods, green synthesis of nanoparticles is widely used by researchers because it is simple, convenient, eco-friendly and requires less reaction time.

The chitosan based zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ch-ZnONPs), pomegranate aril based sulphur nanoparticles (PA-SNPs) and pomegranate aril based silver nanoparticles (PA-AgNPs) were synthesised, characterised and evaluated under in vitro conditions against soybean rust pustules.

The maximum per cent spore inhibition of 70.25, 74.70 and 86.68 per cent over control was recorded in Ch-ZnONPs (1250 ppm), PA-SNPs (2000 ppm) and PA-AgNPs (500 ppm) respectively.