Development and characterization of chitosan-silver nanohybrids with potential application in the control of fungal phytopathogens

Abstract

In the agricultural field, chitosan (CS) is of great interest due to their broad antimicrobial activity and their ability to induce resistance mechanisms in plants against phytopathogens. Likewise, the potential of silver nanoparticles in preventing microbial infections has been demonstrated, including their broad antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens. In this study, the synthesis and characterization of chitosan-silver nanohybrids were performed. Firstly, mycosynthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticles (PchNPs) was carried out. Subsequently, the nanohybrid (CS-PchNHs) synthesis involved the addition of PchNPs, with continuous stirring, into a CS solution. For the first-time stable CS-Pch NHs were produced using biogenic silver nanoparticles from the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Dynamic Light Scattering, (DLS), ζ-Potential, and X- ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, CS-PchNHs exhibited high antifungal activity at low concentrations against four phytopathogens, suggesting that these nanosystems may be used as an alternative to the current hazardous antifungal agents in the integrated disease management.