Find in Library

Cherry is a fleshy drupe, and it is grown in temperate regions of the world. It is perishable, and several biotic and abiotic factors affect its yield. During April–May 2021, a severe fruit rot of cherry was observed in Swat and adjacent areas. Diseased fruit samples were collected, and the disease-causing pathogen was isolated on PDA. Subsequent morphological, microscopic, and molecular analyses identified the isolated pathogen as <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>. For the control of the fruit rot disease of cherry, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) were synthesized in the leaf extract of <i>Calotropis procera</i> and characterized. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of synthesized Fe₂O₃ NPs showed the presence of capping and stabilizing agents such as alcohols, aldehydes, and halo compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis verified the form and size (32 nm) of Fe₂O₃ NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the spinal-shaped morphology of synthesized Fe₂O₃ NPs while X-ray diffraction (EDX) analysis displayed the occurrence of main elements in the samples. After successful preparation and characterization of NPs, their antifungal activity against <i>A. flavus</i> was determined by poison technique. Based on in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity analyses, it was observed that 1.0 mg/mL concentration of Fe₂O₃ can effectively inhibit the growth of fungal mycelia and decrease the incidence of fruit rot of cherry. The results confirmed ecofriendly fungicidal role of Fe₂O₃ and suggested that their large-scale application in the field to replace toxic chemical fungicides.