Work

Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles and Biochar to Suppress Leaf Blight and Fruit Rot in Eggplant

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Leaf blight and fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans are critical issues for eggplant crops. Our study evaluated the biochar amendment, alone and in combination with a foliar spray of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs), on plant performance and disease development. Fungal infection reduced plant growth, with a 22% decline in plant height and a marked decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Adding biochar plant height mitigated these effects: the highest dose (30 g) increased plant height in infected plants by 17.1% and increased pigment concentrations and POX and PPO activities. At the same time, the blight index declined. When biochar was combined with SiO2-NPs, the improvements were more pronounced. In infected plants, the 30 g + SiO2-NPs treatment produced substantial improvement in plant height (+31.3%) and shoot biomass and restored chlorophyll and carotenoid contents by 63% and 28.1%, respectively. This treatment also produced the lowest blight index and the strongest enzymatic responses. Principal component analyses discriminated treated plants from infected ones. These findings indicate that biochar and SiO2-NPs can jointly enhance plant resilience to P. vexans infection, reducing its negative impact.

Source: Journal of Fungi

DOI: 10.3390/jof12050300

Authors: Masudulla Khan, Lukman Ahamad, Younes Rezaee Danesh, Ivana Castello, Gaetano Iacono, Alessandro Vitale

Institutions: Aligarh Muslim University, Guizhou University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi, University of Catania

Language: English

Topic: Silicon Effects in Agriculture

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137