Virucidal activity of silver nanoparticles against Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) in banana plants

Abstract

Background Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a destructive viral disease in many countries including Egypt; it causes severe economic losses in banana crop. Recently, nanotechnology was used to generate resistance against plant viruses. The main purpose of this study was to use silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antiviral agents against BBTV. In this research, three different concentrations of AgNPs (40, 50 and 60 ppm) were applied by foliar spray post-BBTV inoculation. In addition, photopigments, oxidative enzymes, proline and phenolic compounds were determined. Besides, Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used to evaluate the genotoxicity of AgNPs as antiviral factors against BBTV, compared with the control plants. Results In the current study, it was observed that banana plants infected with BBTV and treated with 50 ppm AgNPs have not shown any external symptoms where the rate of infection was 36%. On the other hand, banana plants treated with 50 ppm AgNPs after viral infection gave a significant increase in dry weight and leaf area, compared with BBTV infected banana plants (viral control). Our study showed that 50 ppm AgNPs treatment post-virus inoculation induced non-significantly and significant changes in chlorophyll (a and b) and carotenoids, respectively, compared with healthy and nano-controls. In contrast, phenol, proline and oxidative enzymes were significantly increased in all plants treated with 50 ppm AgNPs post-virus inoculation, compared with the healthy control. Our findings observed that the banana plants sprayed with 50 ppm AgNPs after BBTV infection induced a few changes at the genomic DNA level in the banana plants, whereas both RAPD and SRAP markers scored nearly the same polymorphism 36.99 and 37.5%, respectively. So, genotoxicity induced by banana plants treated with 50 ppm AgNPs post-BBTV inoculation was low. Conclusions It is evident from the study results the role of AgNPs as a novel, safe and effective antiviral agent against BBTV. These results should be taken into consideration in future for the use of AgNPs for plant viruses management.

Bacillus megaterium-Mediated Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles and Their Antifungal Activity against Rhizoctonia solani in Faba Bean Plants

“…In addition, the application of Se-NPs resulted in an increase of total soluble protein compared with control. Also, the best treatment was soaking and foliar spraying, which agree with Hajiboland [89], who illustrated that the application of Se-NPs resulted in a significant increase in total soluble protein. Increasing protein content could be due to the activation of the host defense mechanisms as an indicator of resistance [88].…”

Biological Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Prospects in Plant Disease Management

“…The expression of antioxidant enzymes POD (peroxidase) and polyphenol peroxidase (PPO) in tomato plants treated with AgNPs and infected with ToMV or PVY increased significantly [ 128 ]. Mahfouze et al [ 133 ] discovered that banana plants infected with BBTV and treated with 50 ppm AgNPs did not exhibit any outward symptoms, even though the infection rate was 36%. On the other hand, banana plants treated with 50 ppm AgNPs following viral infection showed a considerable improvement in dry weight and leaf area when compared to BBTV-infected banana plants (viral control).…”

“…In addition, RAPD and DAMD assays can be successfully applied as a sensitive method of detecting DNA stability and genotoxicity in olive plants treated with different concentrations of selenium and silver NPs. Mahfouze et al [ 133 ] demonstrated that after BBTV infection, the banana plants sprayed with different concentrations of AgNPs showed a few changes at the genomic DNA level, whereas both random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers scored nearly the same polymorphism in the banana plants ( Table 5 ).…”

Ocimum basilicum-Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Induces Innate Immune Responses against Cucumber Mosaic Virus in Squash

“…In this context, applying Ag-NPs to tomato plants reduced the disease severity and ToMV or PVY concentration levels inside plant tissues [ 32 ]. Furthermore, treatment with Ag-NPs after 24 h of virus inoculation lowered virus concentration and infection rate [ 60 ]. When Ag-NPs enter plant cells, they activate antiviral action (through DNA or RNA) and prevent viral reproduction by blocking the activity of cellular components or viral vectors [ 61 ].…”