• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.376-380
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• 2009

Effects of silver nanoparticles on the phytopathogenic fungal growth were investigated. Fungal phytopathogens, especially for sclerotium-forming species Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. minor, were selected due to their important roles in survival and disease cycle. Tests for the fungal hyphal growth revealed that silver nanoparticles remarkably inhibit the hyphal growth in a dose-dependent manner. Different antimicrobial efficiency of the silver nanoparticle was observed among the fungi on their hyphal growth in the following order, R. solani > S. sclerotiorum > S. minor. Tests for the sclerotial germination growth revealed that the nanoparticles showed significant inhibition effectiveness. In particular, the sclerotial germination growth of S. sclerotiorum was most effectively inhibited at low concentrations of silver nanoparticles. A microscopic observation revealed that hyphae exposed to silver nanoparticles were severely damaged, resulting in the separation of layers of hyphal wall and collapse of hyphae. This study suggests the possibility to use silver nanoparticles as an alternative to pesticides for scleotium-forming phytopathogenic fungal controls.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.347-349
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• 1998

Slow sand filtration was modified and applied for the determination of eliminating efficacy of various fungi and for recommending an easy approach to growers. After 1,500 liter filtration, Fusarium oxysporum was eliminated by several substrates such as activated charcoal (92.5% elimination), silica (90.8%), vermiculite (90.5%), sand (82.3%), perlite (50.4%), and hydroball (21.2%). Silica was able to eliminate several fungi by maximal ratio, which was corresponded to Fusarium oxysporum 120 cfu/mL. Collectotrichum lagenarium 98 cfu/mL. Phytophthora capsici 82 cfu/mL, Botrytis cinerea 62 cfu/mL, Pythium spp. 42 cfu/mL, and Sclerotinia ssp. 52 cfu/mL. In this case, the change of EC was minor and pH was maintained to about 7. In deep flow culture of 'Ddooksum Cheokchookmyeon' lettuce and 'Seokwang' tomato, silica-, activated charcoal-, and vermiculite-based filtration system successfully eliminated Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophthora capsici from the nutrient solution. As a result, these plants were not diseased by ten weeks after inoculation. With this system, growers can easily control the root-zone fungi in the recirculating hydroponic system.