Abstract

Bacterial wilt of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Smith is common on potato crop worldwide. The current study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on R. solanacearum inin vitro and in vivo conditions. In vitro disc diffusion method revealed that AgNPs and AuNPs at 5000 ppm along with R. solanacearum produced highest inhibition zone (mm) of 1.70 mm and 1.45 mm, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis showed that these nanoparticles cause distortion of bacterial cell walls. Pot experiments with seed treatment and soil application of nanoparticles resulted in significant improvements in plant growth, reduced disease incidence and increased yield. Pot experiment resulted in 70% reduction in wilt and a yield of 2.5 kg plant^-1. The biochemical tests of NPs treated potato plant at 5000 ppm resulted increase of TSS (187.41 ppm) for AgNPs, TSP (440.45 ppm) for control (with R. solanacearum), phenol (253.01 ppm) content for AgNPs, flavonoids (862 ppm) for both AgNPs, terpenoid (21.92 mg) for control (with R. solanacearum) and proline content (100.36 mg g^-1) for AuNPs. The present study showed encouraging result of using Ag and AuNPs as seed treating agent and soil drenching agent for the management of bacterial wilt of potato with enhance plant defence metabolite and yield.

Raj, R., Vanlaltani, L., Mahanta, M., Singh, H., Das, P., Raj, R., Dutta, P., 2024. Efficacy of silver and gold nanoparticles against wilt of potato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum Smith. Plant Health Archives, 2024, online first.