title: Fern-synthesized silver nanocrystals: Towards a new class of mosquito oviposition deterrents?
abstract: Mosquitoes act as vectors of devastating pathogens and parasites, representing a key threat for millions of humans and animals worldwide. Eco-friendly control tools are urgently required. We proposed a novel method of fern-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) using Dicranopteris linearis, acting as a reducing and capping agent. AgNP were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential and particle size analysis. In mosquitocidal assays, the LC50of D. linearis extract against Aedes aegypti ranged from 165.213 (larva I) to 255.055ppm (pupa). LC50of D. linearis-synthesized AgNP ranged from 18.905 (larva I) to 29.328ppm (pupa). In the field, the application of D. linearis extract and AgNP (10×LC50) led to 100% larval reduction after 72h. Smoke toxicity experiments conducted against A. aegypti adults showed that D. linearis leaf-, stem- and root-based coils evoked mortality rates comparable to the permethrin-based positive control (58%, 47%, 34%, and 48% respectively). In ovicidal experiments, egg hatchability was reduced by 100% after treatment with 25ppm of AgNP and 300ppm of D. linearis extract. Interestingly, oviposition deterrent assays highlighted that 100ppm of fern extract reduced oviposition rates of more than 65%, while 10ppm of fern-fabricated AgNP reduced oviposition rates of more than 70% in A. aegypti (OAI were -0.52 and -0.55, respectively). Overall, our results highlighted that D. linearis-synthesized AgNP could be useful candidates to develop nano-formulated oviposition deterrents effective against dengue vectors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajapandian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajaganesh
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India; Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, Vellore 632 115, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Kadarkarai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murugan
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Chellasamy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panneerselvam
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sudalaimani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayashanthini
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Al Thbiani
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Mathath
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roni
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Udaiyan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hasibur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300 Jhongli, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Akon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: Insect Behavior Group, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: benelli.giovanni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benelli
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003715:Dengue; D005260:Female; D029624:Ferns / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011679:Pupa; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012834:Silver
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Dengue; Dicranopteris linearis; Larvicides; Ovicides; Silver nanoparticles