Antiviral Activity of TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs against Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Chili Pepper (<i>Capsicum annuum</i> L.)
Noemi L. Acuña-Fuentes,
Marcela Vargas-Hernandez,
Samantha de Jesus Rivero-Montejo,
Luisa K. Rivas-Ramirez,
Israel Macias-Bobadilla,
Viviana Palos-Barba,
Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz,
Ramon G. Guevara-Gonzalez,
Irineo Torres-Pacheco
Affiliations
Noemi L. Acuña-Fuentes
Laboratory of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amazcala, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, km 1 S/N, El Marques 76265, Queretaro, Mexico
Marcela Vargas-Hernandez
Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amealco, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera Amealco Temazcaltzingo, km 1, Centro, Amealco de Bonfil 76850, Queretaro, Mexico
Samantha de Jesus Rivero-Montejo
Laboratory of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amazcala, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, km 1 S/N, El Marques 76265, Queretaro, Mexico
Luisa K. Rivas-Ramirez
Laboratory of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amazcala, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, km 1 S/N, El Marques 76265, Queretaro, Mexico
Israel Macias-Bobadilla
Faculty of Engineering, Campus Conca, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Valle Agrícola S/N, Arroyo Seco 76410, Queretaro, Mexico
Viviana Palos-Barba
Department of Nanotechnology, Center of Applied Physics and Advanced Technology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, A.P. 1-1010, Querétaro 76010, Queretaro, Mexico
Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz
Department of Nanotechnology, Center of Applied Physics and Advanced Technology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, A.P. 1-1010, Querétaro 76010, Queretaro, Mexico
Ramon G. Guevara-Gonzalez
Laboratory of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amazcala, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, km 1 S/N, El Marques 76265, Queretaro, Mexico
Irineo Torres-Pacheco
Laboratory of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Campus Amazcala, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, km 1 S/N, El Marques 76265, Queretaro, Mexico
Tobacco mosaic virus is the etiological agent of one of the most critical diseases limiting chili pepper production. Various practices have been used to manage the disease, e.g., the use of resistant varieties and interference with the vector through chemical control. However, these practices are not helpful once the virus has been established in the plant. There is still no effective method for the sustainable management of the disease; therefore, exploring new options is required. Currently, some studies have reported the activity of TiO2 NPs against viruses in plants, although not against TMV in chili pepper. The present work aims to determine a possible direct action of TiO2 NPs against TMV and if there is a relationship between the amount of virus and symptoms. The application of TiO2 NPs at 150 μg/mL in infected pepper plants reduced symptoms and viral load and improved the morphological characteristics compared to the control. Incubation of 150 µg/mL TiO2 NPs with the virus for 6 and 8 h before infection decreased viral concentration significantly after infection compared to the control. In this work, it is reported, for the first time, that the use of TiO2 NPs is a novel practice for the control of TMV in chili pepper.
