Penicillium chrysogenum-Mediated Mycogenic Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Gamma Rays for In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Against Some Plant Pathogens

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ability of specific fungus to biosynthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) by the aid of gamma rays and evaluate its performance as a unique antimicrobial agent in the agricultural fields. CuO NPs were synthesized by Penicillium chrysogenum filtrate utilizing copper sulfate at various gamma rays doses. The identification was performed by UV-Vis., FTIR, XRD, DLS, TEM, SEM, EDX and mapping images. Antimicrobial potential of CuO NPs against selected crop pathogenic microbes had been estimated. From the results, the preferred doses applied for CuO NPs synthesis was recorded at 50.0 kGy. The proposed reaction mechanism was studied. TEM image with DLS analysis confirmed the morphology of CuO NPs possesses a mean diameter at 9.70 nm. CuO NPs exhibited a maximum antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum (37.0 mm ZOI) followed by Alternaria solani (28.0 mm ZOI), and Aspergillus niger (26.5 mm ZOI). On the other hand, it was active as antibacterial agent against Ralstonia solanacearum (22.0 mm ZOI) and Erwinia amylovora (19.0 mm ZOI). Therefore, due to these outstanding properties, CuO NPs may be utilized as the significant antimicrobial agents in the agricultural area to restrain the plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria from proliferation.