Fungus mediated biogenic synthesis and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles and its combine effect with Trichoderma asperellum against Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani

In the present study, chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized from four different fungal sources viz., Fusarium oxysporum, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma viride and from one commercial source of chitosan.UV–VIS spectroscopy study of synthesized nanoparticles showed absorption peaks at the range of 310.02 to 342.00 nm. Functional groups of chitosan nanoparticle as OH, N–H, C–H, C=O, C–O, C–N and P=O were confirmed by FTIR study. Surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were found to be positively charged and were found stable in nature. Electron microscopy study showed that synthesized nanoparticles are nearly spherical in shape. DLS analysis showed the average size of the chitosan nanoparticles synthesized from F. oxysporum, M. anisopliae, B. bassiana, T. viride and commercial products as 273.20, 172.50, 78.36, 89.03 and 300.10 nm respectively. Compatibility study of chitosan nanoparticles with T. asperellum showed highly compatible reaction with chitosan nanoparticles at the tested concentration. In vitro assay against Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii showed combination of T. asperellum and chitosan nanoparticle as superior in suppression of mycelial growth of the pathogens as compared to Trichoderma alone and carbendazim @0.1%.