Inhibitory effects of potassium silicate on five soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi in vitro

Silicon (Si) can reduce the severity of fungal diseases in field crops, but the mechanism by which Si protects plants from fungal diseases is not well understood. This study investigated the effect of potassium silicate on the growth of five soilborne phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. Results showed that the growth of four of the fungal isolates (Rhizoctonia solani, Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp....