Sustainable antifungal potential of ZnO and MoS2 nanoparticles against Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum.

Abstract

This study explores the antifungal potential of zinc oxide (ZnO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoparticles (NPs) against Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum, two major fungal pathogens threatening wheat production and grass pastures. Three sizes of ZnO NPs (30 nm, 200 nm, and 20 μm) and MoS₂ NPs (90 nm) were synthesized and characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. Antifungal assays revealed that smaller ZnO NPs (30 nm) exhibited superior antifungal activity due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, achieving up to 79% inhibition of F. oxysporum, while MoS₂ NPs effectively inhibited F. graminearum growth by inducing oxidative stress and cellular damage, with a maximum inhibition rate of 83% (p < 0.05). The combination of ZnO and MoS₂ NPs demonstrated synergistic antifungal effects, as confirmed by light microscopy, which showed that ZnO NPs disrupted fungal cell wall integrity while MoS₂ NPs triggered oxidative stress and intracellular vacuolization. Greenhouse trials further validated the effectiveness of MoS₂ NPs in reducing Fusarium head blight (FHB) severity in wheat, underscoring their potential for sustainable wheat protection, with disease severity reduced by up to 35.8%. These findings highlight ZnO and MoS₂ NPs as promising eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fungicides, though further research is needed to optimize field applications, assess environmental impact, and integrate these NPs into comprehensive plant disease management strategies.