Microscopic and biochemical aspects of sorghum resistance to anthracnose mediated by silicon

• Published in: Annals of applied biology Vol. 163; no. 1; pp. 114 - 123
• Main Authors: Resende, R.S., Rodrigues, F.A., Gomes, R.J., Nascimento, K.J.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2013; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Colletotrichum sublineolum; defence enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; mineral nutrition; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; scanning electron microscopy; Monocotyledones; Mycosis; Inorganic element; mineral nutrition; Fungi; Gramineae; Colletotrichum sublineolum; Angiospermae; Silicon; Fungi Imperfecti; Non metal; Plant production; Scanning electron microscopy; Biochemical analysis; Nutrition; Enzyme; Biochemical compound; Sorghum; Colletotrichum; Fungus resistance; defence enzymes; Infection; Sensitivity resistance; Applied biology; Herbaceous plant; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0003-4746; 1744-7348
• DOI: 10.1111/aab.12040

The use of silicon (Si) in agriculture has attracted a great deal of interest from researchers because of the numerous benefits of this element to plants, especially when they are submitted to abiotic and/or biotic types of stress. The host's increased resistance to diseases, promoted by Si, is mainly associated with the deposition of this element in the tissues and the potentiation of defence mechanisms. However, the mechanisms involved in Si‐mediated host resistance need to be further investigated. Thus, this study aimed to microscopically and biochemically elucidate the resistance of sorghum to anthracnose. In the leaves of plants supplied with Si, in addition to a greater deposition of Si at the infection sites, the acervuli were smaller in number compared to the leaves of plants not supplied with Si. Additionally, the activities of the defence enzymes peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases and the concentration of anthocyanins were higher in the leaves of plants supplied with Si. It can be concluded that Si, in addition to participate in the physical barrier that slows or prevents Colletotrichum sublineolum penetration in sorghum leaves, also plays a role in the biochemical aspect of sorghum resistance to anthracnose.