Green Synthesis, Characterization of Cu Nano Units and Evaluation of Anti bacterial Properties towards the Bacterial Blight Control in Anthurium andraeanum Lind under In-vitro and In-vivo Conditions

Most types of metal nanoparticles exhibit anti bacterial properties. Copper nanoparticles can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) within bacterial cells, initiating a cascade of events that lead to bacterial cell death. In this study, copper nano units (Cu NUs) were synthesized through green synthesis method using anthurium leaf extract toward the control of bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum cv ‘Rainbow’ plants. Synthesized Cu NUs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Anti bacterial properties of 30, 50 and 100 ppm of Cu NUs against Xanthomonas sp. which cause bacterial blight in anthurium plants were studied under in- vitro conditions using well diffusion test. Moreover, anti bacterial properties of said NUs were studied at in-vivo levels by spraying Cu NUs at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 ppm on bacterial blight infected anthurium cv ‘Rainbow. According to SEM and TEM analysis, synthesized NUs remained within size of 25.36 ± 12.55 nm length and 16.18 ± 3.75 nm width exhibiting a polygonal shape. In well diffusion test, opti mized 30 ppm concentration of Cu NUs formed an inhibition zone with a diameter of 20.6 ± 0.94 mm. In comparison, the anti biotic sulfamethoxazole (positive control) formed an inhibition zone with a diameter of 26.3 ± 0.47 mm. At in-vivo level, 200, 100 and 50 ppm all three concentrations were able to control disease in 90% of treated plants within 5, 6 and 7 weeks respectively. Overall, this research highlights the potential of Cu NUs as an effective alternative for controlling bacterial blight disease in anthurium cv ‘Rainbow’. Keywords: Copper nano units; Anti bacterial properties; Bacterial blight disease control; Xanthomonas spp. Bacteria; Anthurium andraeanum