Dual Role of Potassium Silicate and Salicylic Acid: Plant Growth Promotor and Plant Immunity Booster Against Bakanae Disease of Rice

• Published in: SILICON Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 1173 - 1182
• Main Authors: Shivappa, Raghu, B, Jeevan, MS, Baite, SR, Prabhukarthikeyan, U, Keerthana, M, Annamalai, Pati, Prajna, Mohapatra, S. D., Govindharaj, Guru-Pirasanna-Pandi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Disease control; Environmental Chemistry; Enzymes; Fungicides; Fusarium fujikuroi; Germination; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Optical Devices; Optics; Peroxidase; Pesticides; Phenylalanine; Photonics; Plant growth; Polymer Sciences; Polyphenol oxidase; Potassium; Potassium silicates; Priming; Rice; Salicylic acid; Seeds; Salicylic acid; Induced resistance; Bakanae disease; Potassium silicate; Rice
• ISSN: 1876-990X; 1876-9918
• DOI: 10.1007/s12633-023-02738-3

Bakanae, caused by a fungal pathogen
Fusarium fujikuroi
is a major burden in rice cultivation. Management of this disease is crucial as it has the risk of being associated with the seed while exporting. Regular application of fungicides promotes the development of resistance to the molecule, and the lack of newer compounds paved the way for alternative management strategies. Salicylic acid (SA) and potassium silicate (PS) have gained momentum recently for their beneficial effects in promoting plant growth and controlling disease. Potassium silicate and salicylic acid are known to play a key role in enhancing plant defense. The present study investigates the individual and combined effect of PS and SA seed priming for plant growth and defense responses against
Fusarium fujikuroi
. The seed priming combined with SA (100 mg/L) and PS (1.0%) effectively controlled the bakanae disease incidence. In addition, it was also effective on growth parameters like improved germination, root and shoot length, plant biomass, and seedling vigor. Accumulation of defense enzymes like phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), Peroxidase (POD), and phenol derivatives was significantly higher in the treated plants. The maximum activity of these defense enzymes was recorded in PS+SA-treated plants at 21 DAS. The plant treated with SA-100 mg/L+ PS-1% showed the best response without any phytotoxic effect. The information gathered in the present study suggests that seed priming of SA-100 mg/L+ PS-1% can promote plant growth and suppress bakanae disease in rice. This research demonstrates how PS and SA can be used to combat the
F. fujikuroi
in rice by activating key defense enzymes. Additionally, applying these substances to plants stimulates their antioxidant defences, which indirectly prevents the spread of disease. In place of fungicides, the PS and SA treatment options are harmless for the environment and can be used to manage the bakanae disease. Future studies may be initiated to identify potential mechanisms behind the combined effects of SA and PS on plant growth promotion and disease suppression.