Green synthesis and evaluation of iron nanoparticles based on Trichoderma harzianum for application in agriculture

Abstract

The production of nanomaterials applied to the agricultural area is a reality, this brings possibilities of application of the new technology as a promise for the solution of problems and consequent better crop yields. The use of metal nanoparticles for the control of pathogens is recent and one of the problems raised would be in regard to their toxicity both for the environment and for organisms. In order to reduce toxicity, there is a proposal for the use of biogenic nanoparticles, which present a capping composed of molecules from the reducing organism. The iron nanoparticles present low toxicity, which allows their application in the environment and the mycoparasite Trichoderma harzianum is an antagonist used in biological control, which in addition to pest control brings other benefits to crops, but this one faces the same sensitivity problems as others species used in pest control. Based on the above, the project presented here proposes to perform the synthesis of biogenic iron nanoparticles using the filtrate of Trichoderma harzianum as a reducing agent and stabilizer, with the purpose of application in the control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The project aims to synthesize, characterize the nanoparticles, and evaluate their toxicity on different cell lines and microorganisms of agricultural importance and their effects on the soybean crop. The importance of this work is due to the need to develop solutions that are effective for the control of phytopathogens and reduce the environmental impacts, contributing to the guarantee of food and health. (AU)