| Blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae, is the most important fungal disease of rice. The effect of silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn), and their interaction, on rice resistance to blast was investigated. Rice plants (cultivar "Metica 1") were grown in hydroponic solution with 0 or 2 mmol L-1 of Si and with 0.5, 2.5, and 10 mmol L-1 of Mn. Sixty-day-old plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension of P. oryzae and the incubation period (IP), the number of lesions (NL) per cm² of leaf area, the lesion size (LS), and blast severity were evaluated. Blast severity was scored at 48, 72, 96, and 144 hours after inoculation and data were used to obtain the area under blast progress curve (AUBPC). Silicon concentration was significantly higher in leaf... |
