Efficacy of green synthesized silver-based nanomaterials against early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria Solani.

Tomato production is significantly harmed by the interruption of fungal diseases. Alternaria solani is responsible for substantial yield losses in tomato crops grown in greenhouse and field conditions. Silver based green synthesized nanomaterials (AgNMs) are reported as best performers in various agricultural applications and proposed to be best alternatives in plant disease management. Two green based AgNMs at three different concentrations were evaluated against the incidence of A. solani and on the components of antioxidant defense system of tomato plants. Results of current study indicated that the application of green based AgNMs reduced the disease incidence of A. solani with significant increase in tomato production, ascorbate (ascorbic acid), photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in the leaves of inoculated plants as compared to healthy ones. It is concluded that the application of green based AgNMs may be a viable approach for the management of early blight of tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]