In vitro improvement and rooting of banana plantlets using antifungal nanocomposite based on myco-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles and starch

Recently, the use of nanoparticles has been increased in improving plant seedlings. In this study, antifungal nanocomposite (St@CuONPs) based on starch and biosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using Aspergillus niger AH1 was fabricated to improve rooting and seedlings of banana. CuONPs and St@CuONPs were fully characterized using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. CuONPs and St@CuONPs were evaluated as antifungal activity as well as to improve rooting and seedlings of banana. Results of antifungal activity revealed that CuONPs and St@CuONPs have promising antifungal activity toward Penicillium expansum, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani, where St@CuONPs was slightly higher than CuONPs. Meanwhile, different concentrations of CuSO4 and St@CuONPs were used to determine the effects on morphological growth parameters, e.g., leaf numbers, shoot, and root length of banana plantlets. The results showed that the highest increasing in the number of leaves (8.56 leaves), roots formed per explants, and root length (6.40 cm) was noticed in medium supplemented with 9 mg L-1 St@CuONPs. Also, the data revealed that the highest amount of chlorophyll was recorded with 9 mg L-1 St@CuONPs (33.87 SPAD values). In conclusion, St@CuONPs as nanocomposite is promising to improve rooting and seedlings of banana as well as to protect it from fungal plant diseases.

Automated summary

In this study, an antifungal nanocomposite based on starch and CuONPs was fabricated and evaluated for its potential in improving rooting and seedlings of banana. The results demonstrated that St@CuONPs have promising antifungal activity and can increase the growth of banana plantlets.