Natural Silver Particles from Sweet Cherries to Combat Cherry Spot Disease

Jenn Hoskins
30th May, 2024

Natural Silver Particles from Sweet Cherries to Combat Cherry Spot Disease

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman studied sweet cherry crops to combat Alternaria disease
  • They identified the CHM-4 isolate as the most harmful strain of Alternaria
  • Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) synthesized from sweet cherry fruit kernel exudate effectively inhibited the growth of Alternaria fungi
  • The use of SNPs offers a promising, eco-friendly solution to manage fungal infections in sweet cherries, potentially improving crop yields
Sweet cherries have been cultivated in Asia for centuries, yet managing Alternaria disease in these crops has proven to be a significant challenge, leading to reduced yields. Traditional chemical and biological treatments have shown limited efficacy. In an effort to address this issue, researchers from Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman conducted a study to isolate and identify Alternaria isolates responsible for sweet cherry soft spot rot and explore the use of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) as a novel antifungal agent[1]. The researchers examined twelve isolates of Alternaria, identifying the CHM-4 isolate as the most pathogenic. Using the ITS genomic region (ITS1 and ITS4), the CHM-4 isolate was found to have a 95% similarity with Alternaria alternata (MG744381.1). The study's primary objective was to investigate the potential of SNPs synthesized by phytosynthesis to combat the pathogenicity of sweet cherry soft spot rot. The biosynthesis of SNPs was carried out using sweet cherry fruit kernel exudate, an environmentally friendly source. The exudates successfully produced nanoparticles with an average size of 24.97 nm, as confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. These biosynthetic nanoparticles demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of Alternaria fungi and effectively destroy fungal hyphae at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/ml. This study builds on earlier research highlighting the biological properties of silver nanoparticles. For instance, metallic nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), have gained attention due to their remarkable biological characteristics, including antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties[2]. The current study expands on these findings by applying SNPs specifically to combat fungal infections in sweet cherry crops. Additionally, the use of plant-mediated nanoparticle synthesis has been explored in other contexts, such as combating malaria. A previous study demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties of nanosilver biosynthesized from Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extracts against Plasmodium chabaudi infection in mice[3]. This highlights the versatility and potential of plant-mediated SNPs in addressing various infectious diseases. The current research also aligns with efforts to develop eco-friendly approaches to nanoparticle synthesis. For example, the use of fresh fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Hypsizygus ulmarius to synthesize AgNPs has shown promise in producing nanoparticles with significant antibacterial activity and potential cytotoxic action against human lung cancer cell lines[4]. The use of sweet cherry fruit kernel exudate in the current study similarly emphasizes the importance of environmentally friendly sources for nanoparticle synthesis. In terms of environmental safety, previous research has highlighted the need for safer nanosilver formulations due to concerns about ecotoxicity. A study on bifunctionalized nanosilver capped with citrate and L-cysteine (AgNPcitLcys) demonstrated that double coating could mitigate ecotoxicity to tested organisms, encouraging further research on safer nanosilver formulations[5]. The current study's use of sweet cherry exudate for SNP synthesis aligns with the goal of developing environmentally compatible nanoparticles. In summary, the study conducted by Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman demonstrates the potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized from sweet cherry fruit kernel exudate as an effective antifungal agent against Alternaria disease in sweet cherry crops. This research builds on previous findings regarding the biological properties of silver nanoparticles and emphasizes the importance of environmentally friendly synthesis methods. The use of SNPs offers a promising solution to managing fungal infections in sweet cherries, potentially leading to improved crop yields and reduced reliance on traditional chemical treatments.

AgricultureBiotechPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by sweet cherry and its application against cherry spot disease.

Published 30th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31508

Related Studies

2) Biogenic silver based nanostructures: Synthesis, mechanistic approach and biological applications.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116045

3) Biosynthesized nanosilver as anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory agent against Plasmodium chabaudi infection in the mouse liver.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.06.089

4) Synthesis and characterization of Hypsizygus ulmarius extract mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and test their potentiality on antimicrobial and anticancer effects.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116671

5) Ecologically based methods for promoting safer nanosilver for environmental applications.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129523


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