Study on the Antifungal Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Phytophthora nicotianae
- Received Date: 27/02/2021
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Key words:
- ZnO nanoparticle /
- Phytophthora nicotianae /
- hypha /
- hypha morphology /
- zoospore
Abstract: Tobacco black shank disease, caused by Phytophthora nicotianae, is a devastating disease, which puts a serious threat to the sustainable development of the tobacco industry. At present, the main control measures of tobacco black shank disease are still application of chemical agents and cultivation of resistant varieties.However, these control technologies have many disadvantages. Therefore, it is urgent to seek new strategies to effectively prevent black shank disease. In order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of potential agricultural antifungal agents, the antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against P. nicotianae in vitro was investigated in laboratory.The results showed that ZnO NPs significantly inhibited mycelial growth of Ph. nicotianae, decreased its sporangium production, and reduced its zoospore germination rate, all of which appeared to be concentration-dependent. Especially, when the concentration of ZnO NPs reached 800 mg/L, the mycelia barely stopped growing and the zoospore hardly germinated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations revealed that ZnO NPs destroyed the mycelial structure of P. nicotianae, resulting in mycelial shrinkage, morphological deformities and cytoplasmic cavitation.