ABSTRACT

This study was aimed biologically synthesizing  five metallic oxide nanoparticles (NPs), to investigate their antifungal activities. Fungal phytopathogens were isolated from diseased tomato plants and characterized using the cultural method. The identity of the isolates was confirmed by employing molecular techniques. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs), Calcium oxide nanoparticles  (CaONPs), and iron III oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) were synthesized using Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica, Datura stramonium, Ocimum basilicum, and Moringa oleifera extracts, respectively. The NPs were characterized using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The agar well diffusion technique was used to evaluate the antifungal activities of the test NPS at 25, 50, and 100%. Ketoconazole, precursor solutions, and plant extracts were included as controls. The zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were calculated. The results of the cultural identification revealed that Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Phytophthora species were isolated. The molecular analysis confirmed the identity of Aspergillus trinidadensis. The highest yield of NPs was observed in the ZnONPs-treatment group, with an absorbance value of 4.0. There was a significant level of inhibition in the ketoconazole (positive control) treatment compared to all the five test NPs. All the test NPs, except FeONPs,  had MIC at 50%. The findings of this study revealed that only ZnONPs nanoparticle had inhibitory effect on Phytophthora species.