Abstract
An efficient biosynthesis process for the rapid production of nanoparticles would enable the development of a "microbial nanotechnology" for mass-scale production. In the present research, biological silver nanoparticle was synthesized extracellularly by using the fungus, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, where the cell filtrate of the fungus was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the process of nanoparticle synthesis. Different physical parameters such as fungal biomass concentration (1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g), temperature (25, 28, and 33 degrees C), incubation time (0-120 h), and agitation (shaken or not shaken) were investigated, in order to determine the optimal conditions for nanoparticle biosynthesis. The stability and antifungal properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were also determined. Data revealed that a combination of 10 g fungal biomass, a reaction temperature of 28 degrees C, a 72-h incubation time, and without shaking were the optimum conditions for the synthesis of the silver nanoparticles. Visual observation of brown color is an indication of silver nanoparticle production. UV-vis spectroscopy showed maximum absorption at 385 nm with the optimum conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the formation of monodispersed spherical shape with a mean diameter of 10 nm. Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) showed bands at1634.92 and 3269. 31 cm(-1). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) supported that the Z-average size was 24.43 and 0.420 PdI value. Zeta potential showed - 19.7 mV with a single peak. The AgNPs synthesized through this biosystem approach were relatively stable up to 2 months after synthesis. The use of AgNPs as antifungal led to significant reductions in the number of forming colonies for many plant pathogenic fungi, with efficiencies reaching up to 90% against Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium brevicompactum, Helminthosporium oryzae, and Pyricularia grisea. However, further research should be carried out in order to determine the toxic effect of AgNPs before mass production and use of agricultural applications.