A New Composition of Nanosized Silica-Silver for Control of Various Plant Diseases

The present study addressed the efficacy of nanosized silica-silver for controlling plant pathogenic microorganisms. The nanosized silica-silver consisted of nano-silver combined with silica molecules and water soluble polymer, prepared by exposing a solution including silver salt, silicate and water soluble polymer to radioactive rays. The nanosized silica-silver showed antifungal activity against the tested phytopathogenic fungi at 3.0 ppm with varied degrees. In contrast, a number of beneficial bacteria or plant pathogenic bacteria were not significantly affected at 10 ppm level but completely inhibited by 100 ppm of nanosized silicasilver. Among the tested plant pathogenic fungi, the new product effectively controlled powdery mildews of pumpkin at 0.3 ppm in both field and greenhouse tests. The pathogens disappeared from the infected leaves 3 days after spray and the plants remained healthy thereafter. Our results suggested that the product developed in this study was effective in controlling various plant fungal diseases.