Soil application of rice husk as a natural silicon source to enhance some chemical defense responses against foliar fungal pathogens and growth performance of Bitter Gourd (<em>Momordica charantia L.</em>)

Rice husk is a natural Silicon (Si) source. This study evaluated the effect of rice husk in two different forms; ground rice husk (GRH) and rice husk ash (RHA) on downy mildew in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) leaves caused by Pseudoperonospora sp. Rice husk was added to the growing medium to achieve the final concentration of 200 mg Si /kg soil. Si accumulation in leaves, disease severity, plant growth parameters, cuticle-epidermal layer thickness, chlorophyll content, total phenolic content, peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of leaves were measured. Husk treatment lowered the downy mildew severity significantly (p < 0.05) in leaves although the difference between the effects of two husk forms was insignificant. Numbers of leaves, flowers and fruits in husk-treated plants were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in control plants. Cuticle-epidermal layer thickness in GRH, RHA-treated and control plants were 16.8 ± 1.21, 18.2 ± 0.98 and 13.2 ± 1.27 μm respectively. Total phenol content, POD, PPO activity and chlorophyll content in rice husk-treated plants were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control plants. The enhanced disease resistance in rice husk-treated plants appears to be positively associated with the higher accumulation of silicon and Si-enhanced phenolic content and increased activity of PPO and POD enzymes in leaves.