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Harnessing Walnut-Based Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Sustainable Approach to Combat the Disease Complex of Meloidogyne arenaria and Macrophomina phaseolina in Cowpea

Summary

Researchers created tiny particles made from walnut leaves and zinc oxide that can fight harmful plant diseases caused by root-knot nematodes and fungal infections in cowpea plants. When applied to diseased plants, these natural nanoparticles significantly reduced pest populations, improved plant growth and health, and helped plants recover from stress without harming beneficial bacteria in the soil. This green technology offers farmers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical pesticides.

Background

Plant parasitic nematodes and soil-borne fungi cause substantial damage to global crop production, with root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and charcoal rot fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina) being major threats to cowpea cultivation. Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have shown promise as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides for disease management.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize walnut-based green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles and evaluate their effectiveness in mitigating the disease complex caused by simultaneous infection of cowpea plants by Meloidogyne arenaria root-knot nematodes and Macrophomina phaseolina root-rot fungus.

Results

ZnO NPs exhibited concentration-dependent nematicidal activity with 94.12% mortality at 100 mgL⁻¹ and 89.4% fungal growth inhibition. In infected cowpea plants, ZnO NPs significantly reduced gall formation, egg mass production, and root-rot index while improving plant length, biomass, leghemoglobin content, and root nodules. Histochemical analyses showed reduced oxidative stress markers (ROS and lipid peroxidation) and restored stomatal function.

Conclusion

Green-synthesized walnut-based ZnO nanoparticles provide an eco-friendly and effective solution for managing the disease complex in cowpea caused by concurrent nematode and fungal infections, without harming beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This sustainable approach offers significant potential for sustainable agricultural practices with minimal environmental impact.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 38999583, DOI: 10.3390/plants13131743
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