RAVINDER KUMAR, ANIL KUMAR POONIA AND JOGINDER SINGH DUHAN*
Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa-125 055 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : duhanjs68@gmail.com; Mobile : 9416725009)
(Received : November 24, 2021; Accepted : January 15, 2022)
ABSTRACT
Mancozeb, a readily water-soluble fungicide, was encapsulated in natural polymer chitosan to decrease
the toxicity of chemical fungicide. Blank and mancozeb loaded (100, 200 and 400 µl/ml of 1 mg/ml stock)
chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were synthesized using TPP (Sodium tripolyphosphate) by ionic gelation
method and characterized using PSA (Particle size analyzer) for particles size, PDI (Polydispersity index)
and zeta potential. The average size of nanoparticles ranged from 292.4 to 443.9 nm, with zeta potential
value ranging from 14.8 to 17.8 mV. PDI values were found to be 0.399 and 0.579 confirming uniform
sized NPs in the solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed 150 nm spherical
shaped nanoparticles with mancozeb entrapped inside and on the surface of nanoparticles. FTIR further
validated the ionic interaction between mancozeb and nanoparticles. A strong peak at 3455.94/cm was
associated with asymmetrical NH2 stretching vibrations, whereas a weak peak at 1416.15/cm in mancozeb
loaded nanoformulations indicated N-monosubstituted amides in solution. Antifungal efficacy of
nanoformulation was checked using agar well diffusion method against plant pathogen F. pallidoroseum
and 400 µl/ml formulation was comparable with that to commercial mancozeb with an inhibition zone of
16 mm for both. Hence, this study may help to control the plant pathogens and simultaneously minimize
the leaching loss of chemical fungicide and hence soil pollution, which may be helpful in sustainable
development.
Key words : : Chitosan nanoparticles, mancozeb, characterization, antimicrobial potential, F. pallidoroseum