The role of silicon in protecting plants from diseases and insects.
Silicon is the second most abundant element after oxygen in the proportion of its presence in the earth's crust, and its presence is usually in the form of silicate salts.
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On the other hand, silicon is not classified as one of the essential elements for Plant life and growth, but a steady increase has been observed in research trying to find strong evidence of the importance of this element, especially when the plant is under harsh environmental conditions.
Among the confirmed results of research is an indication that silicon reduces the toxic effect on plants resulting from increased salinity, drought, and exposure to heavy metals.
It has also been proven that bio-silica improves plant strength and its ability to resist harsh external environmental conditions.
As for how Silicon Works to protect the plant, this stems from the fortification of the natural barriers in the plant cell so that pathogens do not strengthen their attack, as happens in fungi, bacteria, and viruses, whose ability to attack plant cells is determined when silicon is present in an organic form inside the plant. Silicon has a direct or indirect role in maintaining the life of the plant due to its role in strengthening the cell wall to be able to withstand the harshest environmental conditions.
However, other research indicates that the role of silicon in plant life is still complex and needs more study.
The importance of silicon in plant life is summarized in the following points:
1- Silicon is one of the components of the cell wall in plants.
2 - Silicon works to strengthen the cell walls to prevent piercing insects from penetrating them, thus protecting plants from being infected by these insects.
3 - Silicon increases the plants' ability to withstand temperatures and drought.
4- Silicon works to prevent the penetration of fungi into the skin of plants, as it is concentrated in the site of the fungus penetration and prevents it from entering, thus reducing the incidence of disease.
5- It improves the hardness of the leaves.
6- Silicon prevents the toxic effect arising from the increased fertilization with iron and manganese.
7- It was found that spraying plants with silicon works to protect them from infection with aphids.
8- The importance of silicon for all types of plants has not yet been proven, and scientific research is underway in this direction.
Silicon contributes to the fight against plant diseases, whether by adding it to the soil or spraying it on the leaves of plants.
M. greasy and wheat blight caused by the fungus R. solani. Thus, adding silicon to the soil dispenses with the use of fungicides to combat previous diseases.
Silicon also contributes to the resistance to powdery mildew disease in cucumbers, which is caused by the fungus fuligne Sphaerotheca, and root rot due to infection with the fungus Ultimum Pythium.
In wheat, it resists powdery mildew caused by the fungus Tritici sp. F. graminis Bulmeria The treatment with silicon works on an interaction between it and the plant epidermal cells, the result of which is to prevent the former fungus from attacking and infecting the cells by producing swellings in the form of papilla bumps and the formation of solid parts callose or the secretion of phenols that collect along the cell wall to negatively affect the ability of the fungus to attack tissues.
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