Evaluation and mechanism of antifungal effects of carbon nanomaterials in controlling plant fungal pathogen

The antifungal activity of six carbon nanomaterials (CNMs, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), fullerene (C60) and activated carbon (AC)) against two important plant pathogenic fungi (Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) and Fusarium poae (F. poae)) was evaluated. SWCNTs were found to show the strongest antifungal activity, followed by MWCNTs, GO, and rGO, while C60 and AC showed no significant antifungal activity. The antifungal mechanism of CNMs was deduced to target the spores in three steps: (i) depositing on the surface of the spores, (ii) inhibiting water uptake and (iii) inducing plasmolysis.