Antifungal Properties of Nanosilver Clay Composites Against Fungal Pathogens of <i>Agaricus bisporus</i>

Abstract This study aimed to determine the possible control of selected pathogenic and competitive fungi A. bisporus by three nanosilver clay composites establish effective concentrations for inhibiting pathogens. Nanosilver (AgNPs) (zeolite, montmorillonite, palygorskite) were synthesized a microwave‐assisted surface functionalization technique, various techniques characterized products. Zeolite montmorillonite showed uniformly distributed spherical AgNPs with an average size 3.33 nm 2.85 nm, respectively, whereas palygorskite presented agglomerated unevenly AgNPs. The influence on 9 fungi, including strains T. aggressivum f. aggressivum, L. fungicola, C. dendroides , Mycogone sp., was determined in vitro at different concentrations. At 10 mg/mL, AgNP‐zeolite AgNP‐montmorillonite inhibited 8 out pathogens, while AgNP‐palygorskite only 1 pathogen. tested against revealed no adverse effects mycelial growth any tested. confirms that have antifungal properties can be used as alternative fungicides mushroom pathogens without affecting growth. However, further investigation is required unravel mechanism selective activity observed this study.