Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using cow milk and their antifungal activity against phytopathogens

Silver nanoparticles have wide application in different scientific fields. The present study reports the simple and eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using cow milk. The X-ray diffraction peaks (2θ - 37.76, 46.12, 67.4, and 76.84) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy peak, approximately at 3 keV, confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. Transmission electron micrograph showed that nanoparticles are mostly circular with an average size of 30-90 nm. The proteins present in cow milk could be responsible for Ag⁺ ions reduction. The synthesized nanoparticles (2 mM) can significantly inhibit (87.1%, 86.5%, and 83.5%) the growth of phytopathogens Colletotrichum coccodes, Monilinia sp., and Pyricularia sp.