Green synthesis of sulfur nanoparticles using Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extract and nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne javanica

Luma S. Al Banna, Nidá M. Salem, Gharam A. Jaleel and Akl M. Awwad

Abstract

Sulfur nanoparticles (S-NPs) were prepared using rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves aqueous extract and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (Na2S2O3.5H2O) at room temperature. The S-NPs were characterized by UV– visible pectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The sulfur nanoparticles are crystalline in nature with average size of 40 nm. The morphology of S-NPs could be controlled by tuning the amount of rosemary leaves aqueous extract and sulfur ions. The cytotoxic effects of the S-NPs on hatching of second stage root-knot and mortality of second stage of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) were tested. These results confirmed that the S-NPs synthesized using rosemary leaves aqueous extract and could possibility be used as nematicidal to manage M. javanica infestation.