Exploring the antifungal potential of green synthesized silver nanoparticles against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in pomegranate

The green synthesis of nanoparticles offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods for plant disease management. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous extracts of Datura metel, Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera, and Prosopis juliflora. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using UV−Vis spectroscopy, zeta size analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These techniques confirmed the formation of pure, crystalline nanoparticles ranging from 15 to 50 nm. The antifungal activity of the AgNPs was evaluated in vitro using the poison food technique on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µg·mL−1. AgNPs synthesized from D. metel showed complete inhibition (100%) of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides at 100 µg·mL−1, followed by A. sativum (74.44%), P. juliflora (67.04%), and M. oleifera (61.11%). These findings indicate that green-synthesized AgNPs, particularly those derived from D. metel, exhibit significant antifungal activity against C. gloeosporioides and may serve as potential alternatives to synthetic fungicides.