Innovative approach to sunlight activated biofungicides for strawberry crop protection: ZnO nanoparticles

Zivile Luksiene; Neringa Rasiukeviciute; Bernadeta Zudyte; Nobertas Uselis

doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2019.111656

Innovative approach to sunlight activated biofungicides for strawberry crop protection: ZnO nanoparticles

J Photochem Photobiol B. 2020 Jan:203:111656. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2019.111656. Epub 2019 Oct 23.

Authors

Zivile Luksiene¹, Neringa Rasiukeviciute², Bernadeta Zudyte³, Nobertas Uselis²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Sauletekio 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; Vilnius university, Institute of Computer Science, Didlaukio st. 47, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: zivile.luksiene@tmi.vu.lt.
² Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Kauno 30, LT-54333 Babtai, Lithuania.
³ Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Sauletekio 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.

PMID: 31676121
DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2019.111656

Abstract

Strawberries are one of the most common and important fruits in the world, widely investigated for their nutritional and nutraceutical properties. However, after the emergence of several outbreaks of foodborne diseases some concerns regarding the microbiological safety of fresh strawberries have increased in recent years. In this paper new insights, based on application of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as alternative to chemical fungicides in the fields for preharvest preservation of strawberries are presented. Antifungal activity of ZnO NPs was tested on main strawberry plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Obtained data indicated that used ZnO NPs (5 × 10^-3 M) in the dark just insignificantly (12%) inhibited the radial growth of B. cinerea. But photoactivated ZnO NPs (5 × 10^-3 M, 405 nm, 34 J/cm²) inhibited the growth of B. cinera by 80%. Real-time field experiments revelead, that spraying of ZnO NPs in the strawberry field in sunny day reduced Botrytis incidences by 43%, enhanced the crop production by 28.5% and stoped the spoilage of harvested fruits during storage by 8 days, if compare with control. No harm to crowns and leaves of strawberry plant have been found, however this treatment increased the growth of inflorescence (37.5%) and reduced the growth of runners (32.8%). For comparison, spraying of conventionqal chemical fungicide fenhexamid (FEN) reduced Botrytis incidences in the same level as ZnO NPs, increased the harvest by 21.9% and delayed the spoilage of fruits by 8 days. The presented results look highly promising, since ZnO NPs in the presence of sunlight, activated by UV and visible light can protect strawberry fruits from Botrytis infection more effectively than conventional fungicide fenhexamid. This treatment significantly increased crop production and reduced spoilage of strawberries. It looks like ZnO NPs have great potential in the future to replace chemical fungicides.

Keywords: Biofungicide; Field experiment; Photocatalysis; Strawberries; Visible light; ZnO nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

Amides / pharmacology
Antifungal Agents / chemistry
Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
Botrytis / drug effects
Botrytis / radiation effects
Catalysis
Crop Protection
Fragaria / growth & development*
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity
Plant Diseases / microbiology
Plant Diseases / prevention & control
Sunlight*
Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

Amides
Antifungal Agents
N-(2,3-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide
Zinc Oxide