Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Applications for Postharvest Quality Improvement and Control of Green Mold Disease

The application of green nanotechnology has emerged as a potentially fruitful strategy for sustainable agriculture, particularly for the purpose of improving postharvest quality and preventing fungal diseases in fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this review was to investigate the environmentally friendly synthesis, characterization, mechanisms, and agricultural applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), with a particular focus on the mitigation of green mold disease associated with Penicillium digitatum fungi. We discuss a variety of biological, chemical, and physical methods for the synthesis of AgNPs. We highlight the superiority of plant-mediated and microbe-mediated “green” approaches, which are nontoxic, cost-effective, and environmentally benign. When it comes to confirming the morphology and stability of nanoparticles, characterization techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis are of utmost importance. The generation of reactive oxygen species, disruption of membranes, and inhibition of fungal enzyme systems are the mechanisms by which AgNPs exercise their antifungal effects. The use of AgNPs during both the preharvest and postharvest stages of fruit production increases the shelf life of fruit, preserves its nutritional quality, and reduces the need for synthetic fungicides. Additionally, this review investigates the concerns regarding safety, regulatory frameworks, and economic implications that are associated with the utilization of AgNPs. Collectively, environmentally friendly AgNPs represent an innovative and sustainable tool for postharvest disease management and the enhancement of food security. However, additional research of toxicity, field validation, and large-scale implementation is still required.