Exploring the Potential of Green Silver Nanoparticles from Berberis vulgaris against Bacterial Spot of Tomato and its Surveillance in Poonch District

Bacterial spot of tomato is a major constraint to tomato production in tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates, leading to significant crop losses. The current study aimed to manage the highly devastating disease bacterial spot of tomato, caused by Xanthomonas perforans, using green silver nanoparticles based on Berberis vulgaris plant extract. Disease parameters, namely disease prevalence and disease incidence, were calculated from tomato growing areas of district Poonch, AJK, to document the current status of bacterial spot disease on local tomato cultivars. The associated pathogenic strains were purified, and virulence study was conducted on healthy tomato seedlings followed by characterization using morphological, biochemical, and molecular analysis. B. vulgaris plant extract was used for the preparation of green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and three different concentrations were prepared (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%). For texture and molecular composition study, characterization of green AgNPs was done using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Green silver nanoparticles were then evaluated using the inhibition zone technique in the lab, and it was found that the maximum inhibition zone of 24.32 mm was observed at a 0.6% concentration. Similarly, in the greenhouse experiment, the minimum disease incidence was recorded in the treatment with a 0.6% concentration of green AgNPs. The results of the current study showed a significant reduction in disease incidence while using green silver nanoparticles against bacterial spot of tomato