Abstract
Chestnut is an important crop in Portugal, representing an important source of revenue for mountain regions in this country. However, it has been strongly affected by the chestnut blight, a severe disease with negative consequences to fruit production, since there is still no definitive solution to this problem. Silicon is considered a nutrient for agricultural crops by conferring resistance to plants under biotic stress conditions through the combination of a physical and chemical defense system to fight against pathological fungi which attack leaves, roots and stems. Based on these factors, this study evaluates the influence of SiK® on chestnut plants infected with Cryphonectria parasitica. Three concentrations were studied: 5 mM, 7.5 mM and 10 mM SiK®. Results showed that Si fertilization can reduce the disease severity and the mortality rate of chestnut plants. The supply of 7.5 and 10 mM SiK® on PDA petri plates resulted in a total capacity of suppression (100% PI) of C. parasitica mycelium growth as opposed to the control petri plates (PDA). These concentrations also increased the antioxidant enzyme activity, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) measured 60 days after the inoculation with the fungus. In addition, the SiK® application increased the total phenolic compounds and soluble proteins content, which occurred over time. Also, increasing concentrations of SiK® increased the tolerance of seedlings to C. parasitica. The present study indicates that Si fertilization may be used in the future as a control method against chestnut blight.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguín O, Sainz MJ, Montenegro D, Mansilla JP (2011) Biodiversidad e hipovirulencia de Cryphonectria parasítica en Europa: implicaciones para el control biológico del cancro del castaño. Rec Rurais 7:35–47
Aksoy HM, Serdar U (2004) A research on chemical control against chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica (Murill) Barr). Plant Pathol J 3:44–47. https://doi.org/10.3923/ppi.2004.44.47
Anderson JM, Pegg KG, Dann EK, Cooke AW, Smith LA, Willingham SL, Giblin FR, Dean JR, Coates LM (2005) New strategies for the integrated control of avocado fruit diseases. New Zealand and Australia Avocado Grower’s Conference. Tayranga, New Zealand. Session 3. Pest disease control strategies, integrated production systems and the impact on market access, pp 1–6
Bekker TF, Kaiser C, Labuschagne N (2009) The antifungal activity of potassium silicate and the role of pH against selected plant pathogenic fungi in vitro. S Afr J Plant Soil 26:55–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2009
Bragança MHP (2007) Chestnut blight in Portugal: spread and populational structure of Cryphonectria parasitica. Ph.D. Dissertation, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa
Bragança H, Simões S, Onofre N, Santos N (2009) Factors influencing the incidence and spread of Chestnut blight in northeastern Portugal. J Plant Pathol 91:53–59. https://doi.org/10.4454/jpp.v91i1.623
Carneiro-Carvalho A, Pereira C, Marques T, Martins L, Anjos R, Pinto T, Lousada J, Gomes-Laranjo J (2017) Potential of silicon fertilization in the resistance of chestnut plants to ink disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi). Int J Environ Agric Biotechnol (IJEASB) 2:2740–2753
Cruz MFA, Silva LAF, Rios JA, Debona D, Rodrigues FA (2015) Microscopic aspects of the colonization of Pyricularia oryzae on the rachis of wheat plants supplied with silicon. Bragantina 74:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4499.0023
Dann EK, Le DP (2017) Effects of silicon amendment on soilborne and fruit diseases of avocado. Plants 6:2–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants6040051
Dann EK, Muir S (2002) Peas grown in media with elevated plant-available silicon levels have higher activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase are less susceptible to a fungal leaf spot pathogen and accumulate more foliar silicon. Australas Plant Pathol 31:9–13. https://doi.org/10.1071/AP01047
Debona D, Rodrigues FA, Rios JA, Nascimento KJT (2012) Biochemical changes in the leaves of wheat plants infected by Pyricularia oryzae. Biochem Cell Biol 102:1121–1129. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-12-0125-R
Debona D, Rodrigues FA, Datnoff LE (2017) Silicon’s role in abiotic and biotic plant stresses. Annu Rev Phytopathol 4:85–111. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035312
Ebrahimi L, Aminian H, Etebarian HR, Sahebani N (2012) Control of apple blue mould disease with Torulaspora delbrueckii in combination with silicon. Arch Phytopathol Plant Protect 45:2057–2065. https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2012.720772
EPPO (2011) Distribution maps of quarantine pest for Europe: Cryphonectria parasitica. AnnexA2. Access 24 April 2016. http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/listA2.htm
Farooq MA, Ali S, Hameed A, Ishaque W, Mahmood K, Igbai Z (2013) Alleviation of cadmium toxicity by silicon is related to elevated photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes, suppressed cadmium uptake and oxidative stress in cotton. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 96:242–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.07.006
Ferreira SGM (2012) Desenvolvimento e fitossanidade de videiras e ameixeiras tratadas com silício em sistema organico. Dissertação de Mestrado. Brasil, Universidade de Guarapuava
Fortunato AA, Rodrigues FA, Baroni JCP, Soares GCB, Rodriguez MAD, Pereira OL (2012a) Silicon suppresses fusarium wilt development in banana plants. J Phytopathol 160:674–679. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12005
Fortunato AA, Rodrigues FA, Nascimento KJT (2012b) Physiological and biochemical aspects of the resistance of banana plants to fusarium wilt potentiated by silicon. Biochem Cell Biol 102:957–966. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-02-12-0037-R
Ghezi E, Khodaparast SA, Zare R (2009) Distribution and severity of damage by Cryphonectria parasitica in the chestnut stands in Guilan province. Iran. Forest Ecol 40:450–457. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0329.2009.00621.x
Gong H, Zhu X, Chen K, Wang S, Zhang C (2005) Silicon alleviates oxidative damage of wheat plants in pots under drought. Plant Sci 169:313–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2005.02.023
Gouveia E, Abreu A (1994) Avaliação da Resistência do castanheiro (Castanea sativa) a Phytophthora cinnamomi. Rev Florest 7:3–17
Gouveia E, Coelho V, Monteiro L (2010) Potential of local hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria parasitica for biological control of chestnut blight. Acta Hortic 866:443–448
Guntzer F, Keller C, Meunier JD (2012) Benefits of plant silicon for crops: a review. Agron Sustain Dev 32:201–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0039-8
Harizanova A, Zlatev Z, Koleva L (2014) Effect of silicon on activity of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthesis in leaves of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.). Turk J Agric Nat Sci 2:1812–1817
Heiniger U, Rigling H (1994) Biological control of chestnut blight in Europe. Annu Rev Phytopathol 32:581–599. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.py.32.090194.003053
Jafari SR, Arvin SMJA, Kalantari KM (2015) Response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings to exogenous silicon and salicylic acid under osmotic stress. Acta Biol Szeged 59:25–33
Kaiser C, Van der Merw R, Bekker TF, Labuschagne N (2005) In vitro inhibition of mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi, including Phytophthora cinnamomi by soluble silicon. South African Avocado Growers’ Association Yearbook, vol 28, pp 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2006.10634750
Korndörfer GH, Pereira HS, Nolla A (2004) Análise de silício: solo, planta e fertilizante. UFU-ICIAGGPSi, Boletim técnico, p 2
Kumari IS, Kumarasamy D (2013) Studies on phytolith morphology of Crescentia cujete L. Glob Res Anal 2:10–11. https://doi.org/10.15373/2249555X
Lattanzio V, Lattanzio VMT, Cardinali A (2006) Role of phenolics in the resistance mechanisms of plants against fungal pathogens and insects. In: Imperato F (ed) Phytochemistry: advances in research. Research Signspost, Kerala, pp 23–67
Li W, Shao M, Zhong W, Yang J, Okada K, Yamane H, Zhang L, Wang G, Wang D, Chang S, Qian G, Liu F (2012) Ectopic expression of Hrf1 enhances bacterial resistance via regulation of diterpene phytoalexins, silicon and reactive oxygen species burst in rice. PLoS ONE 7:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043914
Lisztes-Szabó Z, Kovács S, Petõ A (2012) Phytolith analysis of Poa pratensis (Poaceae) leaves. Turk J Bot 38:851–863. https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1311-8
Lu G, Jian W, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Cao J (2008) Suppressive effect of silicon nutrient on Phomopsis stem blight development in asparagus. HorScience 43:811–817. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.3.811
Ma JF, Yamaji N (2008) Functions and transport of silicon in plants. Cell Mol Life Sci 65:3049–3057. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-7580-x
Malhotra CCH, RitiThapar K (2016) Alleviation of abiotic and biotic stresses in plants by silicon supplementation. Sci Agric 13:59–73. https://doi.org/10.15192/PSCP.SA.2016.13.2.5973
Mandal C, Ghosh N, Adak MK, Dey N (2013) Interaction of polyamine on oxidative stress induced by exogenously applied hydrogen peroxide in Salvinia natans Linn. Theor Exp Plant Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1590/S2197-00252013005000004
Manetti MC, Amorini E, Becagli C, Conedera M, Giudici F (2001) Productive potential of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) stands in Europe. For Snow Landsc Res 76:471–476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-004-0038-7
McElrone AJ, Sherald JL, Forseth IN (2003) Interactive effects of water stress and xylem-limited bacterial infection on the water relations of a host vine. J Exp Bot 54:419–430. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erg046
Meena VD, Dotaniya ML, Coumar V, Rajendiran S, Ajay Kundu S, Rao AS (2014) A case for silicon fertilization to improve crop yields in tropical soils. Proc Natl Acad Sci 84:505–518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0270-y
Menzies J, Bowen P, Ehret D, Glass ADM (1992) Foliar applications of potassium silicate reduce severity of powdery mildew on cucumber, muskmelon, and zucchini squash. J Am Soc Hort Sci 117:902–905. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.117.6.902
Monteiro SM, Carvalho A, Anjos R, Gomes-Laranjo J, Pinto T (2017) The use of silicon as a protector against the ink disease in Castanea sativa: A microscopy approach. In: Méndez-Vilas A (ed) Microscopy and imaging science: practical approaches to applied research and education. Formatex Research Center, Badajoz, pp 359–366
Naureen Z, Aqeel M, Hassan MN, Gilani SA, Bouqellah N, Mabood F, Hussain J, Hafeez FY (2015) Isolation and screening of silicate bacteria from various habitats for biological control of phytopathogenic fungi. Am J Plant Sci 6:2850–2859. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1992.0011183X003200050030x
Pozza EA, Pozza AAA, Botelho DMS (2015) Silicon in plant disease control. Rev Ceres 62:323–331. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-737X201562030013
Ribeiro Júnior PM (2005) Efeito do silicato e fosfito de potássio na indução de resistência em mudas de cacaueiro a Verticillium dahliae Kleb. Dissertação de Mestrado. Universidade de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais
Robin C, Heiniger U (2001) Chestnut blight in Europe: diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica, hypovirulence and biocontrol. For Snow Landsc 76:361–367
Rodgers-Gray BS, Shaw MW (2004) Effects of straw and silicon soil amendments on some foliar and stem-base diseases in pot-grown winter wheat. Plant Pathol 53:733–740. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3059.2004.01102.x
Rodrigues FA, Duarte HSS, Domiciano GP, Souza CA, Korndörfer GH, Zamblim L (2009) Foliar application of potassium silicate reduces the intensity of soybean rust. Australas Plant Pathol 38:366–372. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.117.6.902
Roohizadeh G, Arbabian S, Tajadod G, Majd A, Salimpour F (2014) The study of sodium silicate effects on the total protein content, and the activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase of Vicia faba L. Bull Environ Pharmacol Life Sci 3:243–246
Safari S, Soleimani MJ, Zafari D (2012) Effects of silicon pretreatment on the activities of defense-related enzymes in cucumber inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum. Adv Environ Biol 6:4001–4007. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2011.533325
Sahebi M, Hanafi MM, Akmar ASN, Rafii MY, Azizi P, Tengoua FF, Azwa INM, Shabanimofrad M (2015) Importance of silicon and mechanism of biosilica formation in plants. Biomed Res Int. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/396010
Santos GR, Neto MDC, Carvalho ARS, Fidelis RR, Afférri FS (2010) Silicon sources and doses on the severity of the gummy stem blight and watermelon productivity. Biosci J 26:266–272
Schurt DA, Cruz MFA, Nascimento KJT, Filippi MCC, Rodrigues FA (2014) Silicon potentiates the activities of defense enzymes in the leaf sheaths of rice plants infected by Rhizoctonia solani. Trop Plant Pathol 39:457–463. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1982-56762014000600007
Siddique Z, Akhtar KP, Hameed A, Sarwar N, Ul-Haq I, Khan SA (2014) Biochemical alterations in leaves of resistant and susceptible cotton genotypes infected systemically by cotton leaf curl Burewala virus. J Plant Interact 9:702–711. https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2014.905800
Silva TTS (2016) Fitossanidade e qualidade de mudas de Eucalpturophylla x Eucalptusgrandis em função da aplicação de fosfito e silício. Dissertação de Mestrado. Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu, Botucatu
Singleton VL, Rossi JAJ (1965) Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic phosphotungstic acid reagents. Am J Enol Vitic 16:144–158. https://doi.org/10.12691/jfnr-3-7-5
Tubaña BS, Heckman JR (2015) Silicon in soils and plants. In: Rodrigues F, Datnoff L (eds) Silicon and plant diseases. Springer, Cham, pp 7–52
Uchôa CN, Pozza EA, Uchôa KSA, Júnior PMR, Toyota M, Moraes WS, Freitas MLO, Silva BM (2014) Acibenzolar-S-Methyl and silicium as an inductor of resistance to Black sigatoka of banana cultivar Grand Naine (AAA). Rev Agra 7:189–196
Wang M, Gao L, Dong S, Sun Y, Shen Q, Guo S (2017) Role of silicon on plant–pathogen interactions. Front Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00701
Weerahewa D, Somapala K (2016) Role of Silicon on Enhancing Disease Resistance in Tropical Fruits and Vegetables: A review. OUSL J 11:135–162. https://doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v11i0.7347
Wu CY, Yao YM, Shao P, Wang Y, Wang ZW, Tian XH (2014) Exogenous silicon alleviates spikelet fertility reduction of hybrid rice induced by high temperature under field conditions. Chin J Rice Sci 28:71–77
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Funds by FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2019. The authors would also like to thank Ana Fraga and Ana Macedo for their technical support and the Electronic Microscopy Facility of the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro University for the SEM photographs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carneiro-Carvalho, A., Pinto, T., Ferreira, H. et al. Effect of silicon fertilization on the tolerance of Castanea sativa Mill. seedlings against Cryphonectria parasitica Barr.. J Plant Dis Prot 127, 197–210 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-019-00283-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-019-00283-z