EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLE SIZES ON THE ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF TOMATO SPOILAGE PATHOGENS

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at the nanoscale ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). Objects or matters at this scale are called “nanoparticles". Nanoparticles are known to have antimicrobial activity against pathogens which makes them a suitable means for controlling pathogens. Tomato spoilage pathogens pose a great problem to the growth and quality of the tomato plant therefore investigating how different zinc oxide nanoparticle sizes affect antifungal activity of these pathogens is necessary. Fungi were isolated from diseased tomato to make mixed cultures. Then, pure cultures were made from the mixed cultures. Cultural tests and lactophenol cotton blue test were carried out. Molecular identification was used to confirm the identity of the most prominent bacterium. The antifungal activity of ZnO nanoparticle was tested against the isolated pathogenic bacteria using the agar well diffusion technique. The results of the Cultural tests and lactophenol cotton blue test showed that the Fungal isolates from the diseased tomato included species of Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger, the highest level of percentage inhibition was observed. It was also observed that the zones of inhibition ZnO nanoparticle had the best inhibitory properties at 48 hrs of incubation, followed 24 hrs before 72 hrs of incubation .