History of silicon and plant disease
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract
The use of silicon in agriculture probably began in China more than 2000 years ago because farmers at that time incorporated rice straw along with manure as a fertilizer to enhance plant performance and yield. In 1917, the potential of silicon to reduce blast on rice was fi rst reported by a plant chemist, and his discovery launched a cascade of silicon research in Japan. The role of silicon in plant growth and potential disease reduction was fi rst noted for dicots in 1939. As a result of research from the 1980s until today, silicon’s potential to decrease the intensity of many diseases is now known for a large number of plant species. Since the early discovery that this quasi-essential element believed to be unimportant in plant development plays a major role in reducing plant diseases, research has revealed that amending plants with silicon is a simple, sustainable way to help maintain and enhance plant health in agriculture.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Silicon and Plant Diseases
First Page
1
Last Page
5
Recommended Citation
Datnoff, L., & Rodrigues, F. (2015). History of silicon and plant disease. Silicon and Plant Diseases, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22930-0_1