Mycogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out in the present investigation using an aqueous extract of endophytic non-pathogenic Alternaria solani F10 (KT721914). The mycosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by means of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The surface plasmon resonance found at 430 nm confirmed the formation of stable AgNPs for several weeks at room temperature. Also, the results revealed the formation of spherical and monodispersed AgNPs with an average size of 14.8 ± 1.2 nm. The FT-IR spectrum suggested that the fungal extracellular proteins and secondary metabolites had the role in Ag reduction and AgNPs capping of which protein Ag nanoconjugates were formed. Furthermore, the mycosynthesized AgNPs exhibited potent antifungal activity against different pathogenic isolates of the same Alternaria solani fungus, the causal pathogen of tomato early blight disease. The antifungal efficiency of the AgNPs at 1, 5 and 10 ppm were evaluated for 8 days after incubation by measuring the inhibition rate of fungal radial growth. The results were further supported by investigating fungal hyphae morphology alteration by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Treated fungal hyphae showed formation of pits and pores. Also, the mycosynthesized AgNPs were able to pass and distribute throughout the fungal cell area and interact with the cell components.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endophytic bacterium to control common bean rust disease under greenhouse conditions. Endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas putida ASU15 was isolated from fresh asymptomatic common bean, identified using biochemical and molecular characteristics. In vitro, the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of P. putida (1 × 10⁴, 1 × 10⁵ and 1 × 10⁶), as well as fungicide ortiva (0.01%) on uredospores germination of Uromyces appendiculatus were tested using water agar medium. The concentration showing the highest reduction of uredospores germination was at 1 × 10⁶, while there was complete inhibition of uredospores germination associated with using ortiva. Scanning electron microscope exhibited the ability of P. putida cells to attack the cell wall of the fungal uredospores germ tubes of U. appendiculatus, causing obvious cell wall breakdown. The activities of chitinase, lipase, and protease produced by P. putida ASU15, in vitro, were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Chitinolytic, proteolytic, and lipolytic activities were exhibited, contributing 55.26, 3.87, and 26.12 U/mL, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions, treated plants with P. putida ASU15 (two days before pathogen inoculation or at the same time of pathogen inoculation) or fungicide reduced the disease severity, compared to the control. Applying P. putida ASU15 at the same time of pathogen inoculation showed reduction in disease severity (69.9%), higher than application before pathogen inoculation (54.9%). This study is considered the first report that demonstrates the mycoparasitic strategy of P. putida for controlling U. appendiculatus. In conclusion, our results revealed that P. putida ASU15 affords a significant disease reduction that may be attributed to direct suppression of pathogen spores germination.

Although cyanobacteria are recognized as renewable sources of biomass for bioactive compounds, they have received little attention as potential biocontrol agents of foliar plant diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fungicidal efficacy of cyanobacterial extracellular products against Alternaria porri, which causes onion purple blotch disease, in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Among the tested cyanobacteria (Anabaena oryzae, Arthrospira sp., Nostoc minutum, N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp.), extracellular metabolites of N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp. reduced the linear growth of A. porri by 20.37 and 36.34%, respectively. Culture filtrates of both Oscillatoria sp. and N. muscorum contained high concentrations of phenolic compounds (104.33 and 145.0 mg l⁻¹, respectively), and alkaloids (473.31 and 378.12 mg l⁻¹, respectively). GC-Mass analysis revealed that the most prevalent component in culture filtrates of N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp. was beta ionone (7.21 and 7.17% of total analytes, respectively). Norharmane and α-iso-methyl ionone constituted 7.08 and 6.83% in N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp., respectively. Components identified in the two culture filtrates included piperazine derivatives, isocyclocitral, α-trans-seequicyclocitral, phytol, oleic acid, fatty acids esters (methyl palmitate and linoleic acid mythyl ester), myristic alcohol and palmityl chloride. Application of culture filtrates of N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp. under greenhouse conditions reduced disease severity by 55.1–66.5%. In conclusion, extracellular metabolites of N. muscorum and Oscillatoria sp. have potential as effective fungicides to control purple blotch disease of onion.