Biogenic Synthesis of Ag, ZnO and SiO2 Nanoparticles by Pseudomonas fluorescens for Improved Rice Growth and False Smut Management
Girijesh Kumar Jaisval
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
S.K. Biswas
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Arvind Kumar
School of Agriculture, Singhania University, Rajasthan, India.
Anju Shukla *
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Saurabh Saini
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Prabha Siddharth
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Tanya Rathore
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Arjun Rana
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
Utkarsh Upadhyay
Department of Plant Pathology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rice is among the most crucial food grain crops cultivated globally, including in India. A field study was carried out in Kharif 2023–24 and 2024–25 to assess the impact of various concentrations of nanoparticles synthesized from Pseudomonas fluorescens on rice growth inducer under pathogen stress. The treatments comprised silver (Ag NPs), zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), and silicon dioxide (SiO₂ NPs) at different concentrations, in addition to a standard fungicide (copper oxychloride) and control samples. Of all treatments, Ag NPs at 300 ppm (T₃) consistently showed the best results, significantly improving shoot length (46.58–107.45 cm), fresh shoot weight (65.45–185.20 g/plant), fresh root weight (20.95–25.95 g/plant), dry shoot weight (30.25–71.59 g/plant), and dry root weight (8.65–12.35 g/plant) in comparison to control and inoculated control. ZnO NPs at 300 ppm (T₇) and copper oxychloride (T₁₃) exhibited moderate enhancements, whereas the lowest growth metrics were observed in inoculated (T₁₄) and untreated controls (T₁₅), underscoring the harmful impact of Ustilaginoidea virens infection. The findings show that Ag NPs synthesized from P. fluorescens at 300 ppm not only reduced pathogen effects but also enhanced vegetative growth and biomass development. These results indicate that bio-synthesized nanoparticles may act as efficient, eco-friendly substitutes for chemical fungicides in boosting rice yield during disease stress situations.
Keywords: Rice, false smut, Ustilaginoidea virens, nano particles, P. fluorescens, bio-synthesized, management