Termiticidal activity of mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles from Aspergillus fumigatus BTCB15

Termites, due to their feeding behavior are exceedingly disastrous to the community affecting not only the infrastructure of buildings but also responsible in converting fields into barren lands. Though insecticides are used to control termites but it is not an ecofriendly approach. In the current study silver nano particles were produced from Aspergillus fumigatus BTCB10 and its effect was observed in controlling termites. Feeder blocks were treated with different concentrations (0.1, 1, 5, 10 and 15ppm) of nanoparticles and fed to the subterranean termites of Coptotermes sp. for two weeks. Among all the concentrations used 15ppm was the most effective in which 100 % mortality was achieved on the 9th day and the mean weight loss of block was 3.3% as compared to control in which it was 32.2%. Among all the concentrations used 0.1 ppm treated blocks were also affected by fungus which showed that higher concentrations were also effective in inhibiting fungal growth. Conclusively, this study showed that mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles are very effective protecting the wood from damaging not only from termite but also from wood deteriorating fungus. Further study should be undertaken to bring this approach at commercial scale.

Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus: silver nanoparticles: termites: Wood Protection.