METALAXYL NANOEMULSION: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ITS EFFICACY AGAINST PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI

At the global level, researchers are working on nanoemulsion and nanofungicides to control plant pathogenic fungi; however, farmers are unaware about these nano-based fungicides. Nanoemulsion can act as potential fungicide when compared to the conventional chemical fungicides. Hence, the current study aimed to the synthesis, characterization and study the efficacy of metalaxyl nanoemulsion to control plant pathogenic fungi. The metalaxyl nanoemulsion was characterized by SEM and Zetasizer Nano (ZS) analysis. The results of the study exhibited the metalaxyl nanoemulsion was of spherical shape with an average size of 76.25–104.61 nm. Further, the plant pathogenic fungi including Alternaria alternate, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia stolonifer were reacted to metalaxyl nanoemulsion with different efficacies. It showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against these phytopathogens by the inhibiting the radial growth and spore germination methods. Nanoemulsion of metalaxyl documented high antifungal activity (EC50 = 464.42 and 851.34 mg/L, respectively) for A. alternata and F. oxysporum. Wattable powder of metalaxyl gave moderate activity against A. alternata and F. oxysporum (EC50=754.20 and 847.72 mg/L, respectively). While the nanoemulsion of metalaxyl showed high inhibition of spore germination (I (%) = 59.09 and 32.61, respectively) to A. alternata and F. oxysporum. Wattable powder of metalaxyl gave moderate activity with F. oxysporum. On the other hand, Wattable powder of metalaxyl recorded high inhibition of spore germination (I (%) = 38.78) for R. stolonifer.