A Novel Biological Approach to Copper Nanoparticles Synthesis: Characterization and its Application Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Abstract

Abstract In nanotechnology, fungi have been identified as excellent candidates for the synthesis of nanoparticles, thus presenting a cleaner alternative to produce new materials with a wide range of potential applications in biomedicine and industry. In this respect, A novel biological approach Penicillium olsonii have demonstrated excellent synthesis capacity to produce copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). Their properties were determined by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. UV-Vis spectra with characteristic absorption peak was observed at 565nm. Biomolecules mediating the synthesis and stabilizing the nanobactericides was studied with FTIR that showed different functional groups. SEM investigations confirmed that size of CuNPs were varied from 6-26 nm. The antifungal activity of CuNPs was evaluated by testing against three phytopathogenic fungi including Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani and Curvularia curvulatat with growth inhibition 86.25, 32.92 and 68.42%, respectively at 200ppm. F. oxysporum was more affected by CuNPs followed by C. curvulata and F. solani. The present work demonstrated that it is possible to perform the biogenic synthesis of CuNPs using P. olsonii as appropriate fungicide.