ANTIMYCOTIC ACTIVITY OF LEAD OXIDE (PbO) NANOPARTICLES

Antimycotic activity of Lead oxide (PbO) nanoparticles prepared by the bio-safe method was evaluated for rot causing fungi. It was observed from the study that all the concentrations of nanoparticles brought about significant inhibition in the spore germination and mycelial growth of all the rot causing fungi. However, the highest inhibition in the germination of all the test fungi was observed at higher concentrations, followed by lower concentrations of nanoparticles. The highest inhibition in the spore germination was found against Aspergillus niger and it varies from 74.26% to 37.63% in different concentrations of nano Pb, whereas the least reduction of spore germination was found against P. expansum and it ranges from 52.44% to 20.47% in different concentrations of nanoparticles respectively, as compared to untreated control. Similarly, inhibition in spore germination of all other tested fungi also varies significantly with the increase in the concentrations of Pb nanoparticles, and the highest concentration caused the highest reduction in the spore germination followed by lower concentrations of Pb nanoparticles, respectively. However, the maximum inhibition in the fungal growth was observed in the case of Alternaria alternata with the zone of inhibition of 11.00 mm, 12.00 mm, and 13.33 mm at 0.1 mg/ml, 0.25 mg/ml, and 0.5 mg/ml of Pb nanoparticles, respectively. The inhibition in the zone of fungal growth due to Pb nanoparticle against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum was 09.66 mm, 10.66 mm, 12.66 mm, and 9.00 mm, 10.00 mm, 11.33 mm at 0.1 mg/ml, 0.25 mg/ml, and 0.5 mg/ml concentration respectively. The activity index was recorded highest against A. niger (0.90) and lowest against P. chrysogenum in the case of PbO at 0.5 mg/ml concentration.