Efficacy of Silicon and Chitosan Nanoparticles as Eco-Friendly Agents Against Aspergillus niger Fruit Rot in Dates

Postharvest diseases are one of the major constraints affecting the quality and marketability of date fruits. Aspergillus niger is one of the most damaging pathogens causing black rot. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) and silicon nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) as eco-friendly alternatives to fungicides. The pathogen was isolated and identified morphologically and molecularly as A. niger. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the successful synthesis of ChNPs and SiO2NPs with nanoscale characteristics. In vitro assays indicated significant inhibition of mycelial linear growth, with the highest suppression observed at 100 ppm of SiO2NPs (96.30%) and ChNPs (92.59%). In vivo application on date fruits demonstrated that both nanoparticles reduced disease incidence and severity. At a concentration of 100 ppm, SiO2NPs and ChNPs achieved the tiniest disease incidence (6.66% and 26.66%, respectively) after 10 days compared to the control. Further, treatments effectively maintained fruit weight and total soluble solids (TSS), indicating improvements in postharvest quality. The results indicate the potential of chitosan and silicon nanoparticles as sustainable and safe agents for controlling A. niger-induced fruit rot in dates, offering a promising alternative to fungicides