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Effect of Electrical Conductivity and Silicate on Infection of Basil with C olletotrichum gloeosporioides in Soilless Culture
Author(s) -
Cogliati Ettore Erik,
Gilardi Giovanna,
Gullino Maria Lodovica,
Garibaldi Angelo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0434
pISSN - 0931-1785
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2012.01958.x
Subject(s) - potassium silicate , silicate , potassium , nutrient , conductivity , electrical resistivity and conductivity , horticulture , ocimum , basilicum , sowing , materials science , zoology , botany , mineralogy , chemistry , biology , metallurgy , ecology , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate administration and of electrical conductivity of nutrient solution in three experiments against C olletotrichum gloeosporioides infection on basil ( O cimum basilicum L . cv G enovese G igante) grown in a closed soilless system. Potassium silicate was added at 100 mg/l of nutrient solution at three different levels of electrical conductivity: 1.5–1.6 mS /cm ( E.C .1), 3–3.2 mS /cm ( E.C .2, 0.70 g/l NaCl) and 4–4.2 mS /cm (E.C.3, 0.95 g/l N a C l). Basil plants were inoculated with C . gloeosporioides spores 21–31 days after sowing or placing the pots on the channels, applying 5 ml of conidial suspension to each treatment. The increased electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution generally reduced the incidence and severity of the disease, with the highest electrical conductivity ( E.C. 3) providing the best results. The addition of potassium silicate to the different nutrient solutions showed a significant reduction in both incidence and severity of the disease compared to a solution without silicate and the best results were given by the addition of silicate with the highest electrical conductivity ( E.C. 3) in all the trials carried out. The combination of high electrical conductivity and potassium silicate supplied gave good results. The possibility and benefits of applying Si amendments in practice are examined.