Síntesis y evaluación de nanopartículas metálicas como fungicidas y fertilizantes en cultivos de importancia económica.
This is an illustration of the possible mechanisms of action of metal nanoparticles on phytopathogenic fungi. These are as follows: (a) ions are released by nanoparticles and bind to certain protein groups, which affect the function of essential membrane proteins and interfere with cell permeability. (b) The nanoparticles inhibit the germination of the conidia and suppress their development. (c) Nanoparticles and released ions disrupt electron transport, protein oxidation, and alter membrane potential. (d) They also interfere with protein oxidative electron transport. (e) They affect the potential of the mitochondrial membrane by increasing the levels of transcription of genes in response to oxidative stress (ROS). (f) ROS induces the generation of reactive oxygen species, triggering oxidation reactions catalyzed by the different metallic nanoparticles, causing severe damage to proteins, membranes, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and interfering with nutrient absorption. (g) The ions of the nanoparticles have a genotoxic effect that destroys DNA, therefore causing cell death