The bifunctional role of copper nanoparticles in tomato: Effective treatment for Fusarium wilt and plant growth promoter

Abstract Both the effectiveness of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) as a treatment for Fusarium wilt and the role of Cu-NPs in promoting tomato plant growth were studied. First, we evaluated the in vitro antifungal activity of Cu-NPs at different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/mL) against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). A strong inhibitory effect on mycelial FOL growth (67.3%) was observed with 0.5 mg/mL Cu-NPs compared to a commercial fungicide based on copper hydroxide, whose inhibitory effect was only 15.6%. Next, in in vivo experiments at the same concentration, Cu-NPs significantly diminished the symptoms of Fusarium wilt by 68 and 66.5% for incidence and severity, respectively. Moreover, the treatments with Cu-NPs increased the growth of tomato plants and particularly raised the chlorophyll content (from 19.3 to 28.6%). This is because Cu-NPs effectively deliver copper as a micronutrient for the plants, while the uncontrolled uptake of copper ions from the commercial fungicide (copper hydroxide) inhibits the healthy development of plants. Importantly, despite the principal function of Cu-NPs as a fungicide, Cu-NPs may be applied as fertilizer for tomato plants. Thus, the application of Cu-NPs effectively treats Fusarium wilt while promoting the growth of tomato plants. Therefore, these results suggest that copper nanomaterials may be used as both a source of micronutrients in cases of soil copper deficiency and as a fungicide. In terms of sustainability, this multifunctionality has the potential to positively impact the environment.