Biological preparation of chitosan nanoparticles and its in vitro antifungal efficacy against some phytopathogenic fungi

• Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared through biological method and characterized by FTIR, DLS, HRTEM, XRD analyses.
• The nanoparticles show high stability in suspension.
• The nanoparticles inhibit the growth of phytopathgens.
• Chickpea seeds treated with nanoparticles show positive morphological effects.

The aim of the present study was to prepare Chitosan nanoparticles through biological method with high antifungal activities. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by the addition of anionic proteins isolated from Penicillium oxalicum culture to chitosan solutions. The formation of chitosan nanoparticles was preliminary confirmed by UV–vis spectrophotometric analysis. The physico-chemical properties of the chitosan nanoparticles were determined by size and zeta potential analysis, FTIR analysis, HRTEM and XRD pattern. The chitosan nanoparticles were evaluated for its potential to inhibit the growth of phytopathogens viz., Pyricularia grisea, Alternaria solani, Fusarium oxysporum. It is evident from our results that chitosan nanoparticles inhibit the growth of phytopathogens tested. Chitosan nanoparticle treated chickpea seeds showed positive morphological effects such as enhanced germination%, seed vigor index and vegetative biomass of seedlings. All these results indicate that chitosan nanoparticle can be used further under field condition to protect various crops from the devastating fungal pathogens as well as growth promoters.