Antifungal evaluation of TiO2 nanoparticles that inhibit Fusarium solani in African oil palm

Abstract

The ability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to attenuate and control several microorganisms was studied, especially for a disease that affects the health and productiveness of crops. For this purpose, the antifungal capacity of TiO2 nanoparticles obtained from two synthesis procedures was evaluated: the first procedure involved green chemistry using an aqueous extract prepared from African palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) leaves; the second procedure followed the Pechini sol-gel method. The nanoparticles obtained by the green chemistry method and the Pechini sol-gel technique had average sizes of 14.60±0.44 nm and 12.30±0.54 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The antifungal properties of TiO2 NPs were evaluated on the fungus Fusarium solani Mart. isolated on Sabouraud culture medium. A factorial experimental design was implemented with two variables: (1) exposure time ranging from 24, 48, and 72 h; (2) nanoparticle concentration between 100 and 400 mg L-1. All measurements were performed in quintuplicate. The results show that the TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by the Pechini method inhibited the fungus by 96.16±0.85% with a nanoparticle concentration of 400 mg L-1, while the TiO2 nanoparticles obtained from the green chemistry method generated a high inhibitory activity of approximately 98.51±0.02% at the four experimental concentrations.