Shape-dependent antifungal activity of ZnO particles against phytopathogenic fungi

Zinc oxide (ZnO) in vitro antifungal activity with three particle shapes were studied. These morphologies were obtained by colloidal and hydrothermal synthesis techniques, the synthesis parameters and methodology for both systems were optimized to obtain particles with the following shapes: nanoparticles, lamellar platelets and hexagonal rods. Morphology and particle size distribution were determined by electron microscopy imaging techniques. The antifungal activity of each type of ZnO particles was evaluated for three phytopathogenic fungi species; Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, Fusarium solani, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioids. ZnO with platelets shaped particles have better antifungal inhibition activity than rods and nanoparticles and it reduced growth up to 65% against Fusarium solani.