Page 11 - Griffin Gazette Issue 2 - 2019

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Silicon treatments can reduce the incidence of
certain foliar pathogens such as: Alternaria, Botrytis,
downy mildew, powdery mildew, and various bacterial
leaf spots. Cucumbers, phlox, sunflowers, and zinnias
are among the crops that have decreased incidence of
powdery mildew with the use of Silicon .
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2. Not all plants are silicon accumulators. However,
even some plants such as tomatoes that do not
accumulate silicon can benefit from applications .
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3. Physical barrier attributes are one mode of action
whereby silicon benefits plants. These include: resisting
powdery mildew penetration into leaves, slowing the
ability of aphids to reproduce on zinnias, and reducing
bract edge burn of poinsettias .
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Image 2
4. SAR (System Acquired Resistance) responses Poinsettias: Silicon’s effect on plant stress is
are also attributed to silicon. These involve whole Poinsettias were intriguing. Silicon alone has no apparent
plant responses to outside forces such as pathogens allowed to wilt effect on plant metabolism when plants
or chemicals. Examples include resisting pathogen down before being are grown under controlled conditions
and insect attack, and reducing the effects of abiotic rehydrated to with no stress, but when stress is
stresses such as drought and chilling stress. evaluate recovery. introduced it actively works against the
The plant on the 5
left had been stressors . Foliar applications of silicon
5. Silicon can improve post-harvest performance of treated with can be made with Sil-Matrix™, an
many crops by increased tolerance to handling and silicon, the plant OMRI listed, EPA registered insecticide/
improving overall plant strength . on the right had miticide/fungicide, which contains
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not. Photo credit- potassium silicate. Many edible crops
Neil Mattson, and ornamentals are on the label.
6. Silicon applications increased the ability of zinnias Cornell University Foliar applications are more likely to
to tolerate an induced heavy metal toxicity and N.G. result in the physical barrier attributes
Impatiens showed increased soluble salts tolerance . mentioned above. Silicon can also be
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applied by soil drenches and amending
the soil. Potassium silicate drenches are
generally made by constant injection at
up to 50 ppm or weekly drenches at 100
ppm. Rice hulls and certain slags can
also be incorporated as silicon sources.
Some of the slag products can create
pH swings so trial thoroughly before
widespread adoption. Soil applications
of silicon are more commonly
associated with the whole plant (SAR)
responses.

More to see online
Interested in learning more about
silicon research on plants? See our
Image 1 | Basil with & without Silicon: digital gazette to view a presentation
Research conducted by USDA-ARS demonstrated the effect that soil applications on silicon research by Dr. Neil Mattson,
of silicon can have on improving chilling damage in basil. Plants were grown Cornell University for even more
at 72 °F for 3 weeks, then exposed to 43 °F for 3 days. One plant received 56 research from USDA-ARS and Rutgers
ppm silicon at each irrigation, the control received no silicon. Photos: J. Boldt, University.
USDA-ARS.

1 Zellner, W.L., 2017 “Silicon: a Biocontrol Agent that Boosts Plant Immunity” Growing Produce.com. September, 2017. Frantz, J.M., J.C. Locke and N. Mattson., 2010 "Research update: Does
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silicon have a role in ornamental crop production?" OFA Bulletin. 924:17-18. Luyckx, M., J. Hausman, S. Lutts and G. Guerriero., 2017 “Silicon and Plans: Current Knowledge and Technological
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Perspectives” Frontiers in Plant Science 411(8):1-8. Frantz, J.M. and J.C. Locke., 2011 “Silicon In Floriculture Fertility Programs” Greenhouse Grower. January, 2011. Cai, K., D. Gao, J. Chen and
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S. Luo., 2017 “Probing the mechanisms of silicon-mediated pathogen resistance” Plant Signal Bahav. 4(1):1-3.