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.

A brusone, causada pelo fungo Pyricularia oryzae, é a doença fúngica mais importante do arroz. O efeito do silício (Si), do manganês (Mn) e da interação deles na resistência do arroz à brusone foi investigado. Plantas de arroz da cultivar Metica 1 foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva contendo 0 ou 2 mmol L-1 de Si e 0,5, 2,5 e 10 mmol L-1 de Mn. Aos 60 dias, as plantas foram submetidas à inoculação com uma suspensão de conídios de P. oryzae e foram avaliados o período de incubação (PI), o número de lesões (NL) por cm² de área foliar, o tamanho de lesão (TL) e a severidade da brusone. A severidade da brusone foi avaliada às 48, 72, 96 e 144 horas após a inoculação e os dados foram usados para calcular a área abaixo da curva do progresso da brusone (AACPB). A concentração foliar de Si foi maior nas plantas supridas com Si. A concentração de Mn na solução nutritiva não interferiu na concentração de Si nas folhas das plantas de arroz. Houve aumento na concentração foliar de Mn à medida que a concentração desse micronutriente na solução nutritiva aumentou, independentemente da presença do Si. A presença de Si na solução nutritiva reduziu a concentração de Mn nas plantas cultivadas na dose de 10 mmol L-1 de Mn. O fornecimento de Si aumentou PI e reduziu o NL, o Tl e a AACPB. As doses de Mn não tiveram efeito no PI e no NL, independentemente da presença ou não do Si. Na ausência de Si, os valores do TL e da AACPB foram significativamente menores para a dose de 10 µmol L-1 de Mn em comparação com a dose de 0,5 µmol L-1 de Mn. Os resultados deste estudo reforçam o potencial do Si em reduzir o progresso da brusone em arroz independentemente da concentração foliar de Mn.

Blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae, is the most important fungal disease of rice. The effect of silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn), and their interaction, on rice resistance to blast was investigated. Rice plants (cultivar "Metica 1") were grown in hydroponic solution with 0 or 2 mmol L-1 of Si and with 0.5, 2.5, and 10 mmol L-1 of Mn. Sixty-day-old plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension of P. oryzae and the incubation period (IP), the number of lesions (NL) per cm² of leaf area, the lesion size (LS), and blast severity were evaluated. Blast severity was scored at 48, 72, 96, and 144 hours after inoculation and data were used to obtain the area under blast progress curve (AUBPC). Silicon concentration was significantly higher in leaf tissues of plants supplied with this element than on its absence, regardless of Mn rates. There was no significant difference in Si concentration among the Mn rates for both - Si and +Si treatments. The Mn concentration was significantly higher in the tissues of plants from the - Si treatment as compared to plants of the +Si treatment, but only at the rate of 10 mmol L-1 of Mn. There was a significant increase in Mn concentration as the rates of this micronutrient increased from 0.5 to 10 mmol L-1 regardless of the Si treatments. The IP significantly increased in the +Si treatment. The Mn rates had no effect on the IP regardless of the Si treatments. The NL was significantly lower in the presence of Si regardless of the Mn rates. The Mn rates had no effect on NL regardless of the Si treatments. The addition of Si to the nutrient solution significantly reduced both LS and AUBPC regardless of Mn rates. However, in the absence of Si, the values for LS and AUBPC were significantly lower at the Mn rate of 10 µmol L-1 as compared to the rate of 0.5 µmol L-1. Overall, the results from this study showed the potential of Si to decrease blast development on rice regardless of the foliar concentration of Mn.