ABSTRACT Mango wilt, caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, is an important disease affecting mango production. In view of the beneficial effects of potassium (K) in other profitable crops and the lack of information about the effect of macronutrients on mango wilt development, the present study aimed to evaluate how mango plants supplied with K respond physiologically when infected by C. fimbriata. Mango plants (» 3 years old) from cultivar Ubá were grown in plastic pots containing 58 mg of K·dm−3 (original K level based on the chemical analysis of the substrate) or in plastic pots with substrate amended with a solution of 0.5 M potassium chloride (KCl) to achieve the rate of 240 mg K·dm−3. Disease symptoms were more pronounced in inoculated plants grown at the lower K level. Substantial declines in stomatal conductance, in line with decreases in the internal-to-ambient CO2 concentration ratio and the absence of detectable changes in the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, suggest that the decrease in the net carbon assimilation rate is due, at least initially, to stomatal limitations. High concentrations of K and manganese were found in the stem tissues of inoculated plants and supplied with the highest K rate, most likely due to the involvement of these tissues in the local development of defense mechanisms. The results of this study suggest that the supply of K favored the physiological performance of mango plants and their resistance against C. fimbriata infection.

A brusone, causada por Pyricularia oryzae, é a doença fúngica mais importante do arroz no mundo. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o suprimento radicular e foliar de silício solúvel (Si) na resistência do arroz à brusone. A aplicação de Si solúvel para as raízes das plantas de arroz aumentou a concentração de Si nos tecidos foliares quando comparados aos de plantas cultivadas em solo suprido com silicato de cálcio. Não houve aumento na concentração foliar de Si após a aplicação de Si solúvel, independentemente de as folhas terem sido lavadas ou não antes da análise. Foi demonstrado por microanálise de raios-X que a deposição de Si foi muito semelhante na epiderme de plantas pulverizadas com Si solúvel, com raiz supridas com Si solúvel ou cultivadas em solo com silicato de cálcio. O tamanho da lesão, o número de lesões por cm² de folha e a área abaixo da curva de progresso da brusone foram reduzidos em plantas cultivadas em solos que receberam a aplicação de Si solúvel ou foram supridas com silicato de cálcio. Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que o fornecimento de Si solúvel às raízes ou a sua pulverização sobre as folhas de arroz podem diminuir os sintomas da brusone.

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is the most important fungal disease of rice worldwide. This study aimed to compare root and foliar supply of soluble silicon (Si) on rice resistance to blast. The application of soluble Si to the roots increased Si concentration in leaf tissues as compare to plants grown in soil amended with calcium silicate. There was no increase in leaf Si concentration after soluble Si spray, regardless if the leaves were washed or not before analysis. X-ray microanalysis revealed that Si deposition was very similar on the leaf epidermis of plants sprayed with soluble Si, root amended with soluble Si or grown in soil amended with calcium silicate. The lesion size, the number of lesions per cm² of leaf and the area under blast progress curve were reduced for rice plants grown in soil that received the application of soluble Si or was amended with calcium silicate. The results of this study showed that the supply of soluble Si to the roots or its spray onto to the rice leaves can decrease blast symptoms.