Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using cow milk and their antifungal activity against phytopathogens

•Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using cow milk.•The nanoparticles are mostly circular with the average size of 30–90 nm.•Synthesized nanoparticles significantly inhibited the growth of phytopathogens.

Silver nanoparticles have wide application in different scientific fields. The present study reports the simple and eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using cow milk. The X-ray diffraction peaks (2θ—37.76, 46.12, 67.4, and 76.84) and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy peak, approximately at 3 keV, confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. Transmission electron micrograph showed that nanoparticles are mostly circular with an average size of 30–90 nm. The proteins present in cow milk could be responsible for Ag+ ions reduction. The synthesized nanoparticles (2 mM) can significantly inhibit (87.1%, 86.5%, and 83.5%) the growth of phytopathogens Colletotrichum coccodes, Monilinia sp., and Pyricularia sp.