EFFECTS OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES ON THE BIOCONTROL ACTIVITY OF Penicillium chrysogenum AGAINST Aspergillus niger

ABSTRACT

Biocontrol approach of disease management has been a method of choice, as it is environmentally friendly. In this study, the effects of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) on the biocontrol activity of Penicillium chrysogenum against Aspergillus niger was investigated. Fungi were isolated from agricultural soil samples. The fungal isolates were identified using phenotypic and molecular characterization. Magnesium oxide nanoparticles were biologically synthesized using plant extract from Moringa oleifera and magnesium oxide precursor solution, and incubated for 24 hours. The biocontrol potential of the biocontrol agent against the pathogen was evaluated using a dual culture method in potato dextrose agar (PDA) supplemented with different concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) of biologically synthesized MgONPs. The control had both organisms cultured on PDA without supplementation. Growth rate of the biocontrol agent and the pathogen were recorded over a period of 7 days. The results of the phenotypic characterization showed the biocontrol agent as Penicillium chrysogenum, while the pathogen as Aspergillus niger. The molecular characterization also confirmed the identity of both isolates. The dual culture method revealed that there was no difference in the growth rate of both Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger in the MgONP-supplemented and non-supplemented control groups. The findings of this study reveal that MgONPs did not enhance the biocontrol activity of Penicillium chrysogenum.