Evaluation of the Efficacy of Nanoparticles and Commercial Fungicides in Inhibiting Collar and Root Rot Pathogens in Pistachio Trees

Subject Areas :

jalal shabani ¹ , Fatemeh Hasanzadeh Davarani ^{2 *} , Amir Hossein Mohammadi ³

1 - M.Sc. Graduate of Plant Pathology, Raf.C., Islamic Azad University, Rafsanjan, Iran
2 -
3 - Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran

Received: 2025-09-04 Accepted : 2025-09-17 Published : 2025-09-21

Keywords: copper nanoparticle, chitosan, Fungicide, Management, Phytophthora,

Abstract :

Abstract Crown and root rot is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting pistachio trees in Iran, primarily caused by various species of the genus Phytophthora. This study investigated the effects of chitosan, copper nanoparticles, chitosan-copper nanoparticles, and registered fungicides including copper oxychloride, fosetyl-aluminum, and metalaxyl-mancozeb at concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 ppm on radial growth, sporangium production, and zoospore formation of two pathogenic species: Phytophthora drechsleri (Pd) and Phytophthora citrophthora (Pc) under in vitro conditions. Radial growth was assessed using V8 agar medium, while sporangium production was evaluated on LBA medium. The results revealed that increasing fungicide concentrations significantly reduced radial growth, sporangium production, and zoospore formation in both species. The lowest radial growth of Pd was observed with copper oxychloride treatment, whereas the highest was recorded with chitosan and chitosan-copper nanoparticle treatments. The minimum sporangium count for Pd occurred at 1000 and 2000 ppm. For Pc, the lowest radial growth was found in fosetyl-aluminum treatment, while the highest was in copper and copper-chitosan nanoparticle treatments. Zoospore production was lowest in treatments with chitosan, copper nanoparticles, and copper-chitosan nanoparticles at concentrations ranging from 500 to 2000 ppm. Based on these findings, copper oxychloride demonstrated the most effective inhibition of vegetative growth, sporangium production, and zoospore formation in both Pd and Pc, suggesting its potential as a promising agent for managing pistachio crown and root rot disease.

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