Speakers - PMBWC2025

Biography

Dr. Shumaila Shahid received her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in 2018, respectively. She is currently working as Scientist (ARS- Agricultural Research Service) in the Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. She is Co-Principal Investigator of six ongoing major research projects at IARI and has also successfully completed three major research projects. She has 13 years of experience in research and teaching (Ph.D. and M.Sc.). She has published many research papers in peer-reviewed International and National Journals, edited books and also published several book chapters. She has been honoured with various prestigious awards such as Scientist of the Year 2023 Award, Young Woman Scientist Award 2023, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Excellence Scientist Award 2022, Young Scientist Award in Plant Pathology 2021, Research Excellence Award 2019 etc. She is a life member of many renowned societies.

Abstract

Nanoparticles have great potential in controlling economically important plant diseases including Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. Nowadays, plant pathogenic fungi can be managed by using agrochemical products, but they pose serious hazard to the environment. Nanotechnology can help in contributing towards minimizing the chemical load in agriculture posing positive environmental impacts. In the recent era, more focus has been given to the green synthesis of nanoparticles which lead to the formation of stable, biocompatible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly nanoparticles. Biosynthesized nanoparticles serve as environmentally friendly as well as efficient alternatives to fungicides. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most destructive disease of cucurbits and causes huge losses to the crop worldwide, hence it is necessary to manage the disease to prevent the crop losses. Currently, numerous types of nanomaterials have been explored against Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. However, in particular, metal oxide nanoparticles such as oxides of iron, zinc, gold, silver, titanium, copper, etc.  are considered to be an efficient and eco-friendly alternative for controlling Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. Since, keeping in view the eco-friendliness as well as efficacy of metal oxide nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized from the mung bean plants through green synthesis approach and the antifungal efficacy of the green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles was checked at different concentrations against Fusarium oxysporum, the wilt pathogen of Fusarium wilt of cucurbits. Iron oxide nanoparticles were found to be highly effective against Fusarium oxysporum and it caused great inhibition of the wilt pathogen. Maximum suppression (76%) of the wilt pathogen was recorded at 100 ppm concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles, followed by 80 ppm concentration (64%) which proved its efficacy in the management of Fusarium wilt pathogen in cucurbits. Hence, biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles proved its potential that it could be a novel and environmental friendly alternative of future new generation fungicide for controlling Fusarium wilt of cucurbits.