Abstract
ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe cichoracearum or Podosphaera fusca, is a common disease of gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) grown in Florida. Previous studies demonstrated that silicon reduces powdery mildew in Arabidopsis, cucumber, grape, strawberry, and wheat. In this study, two silicon (Si) sources, calcium silicate and potassium silicate, were evaluated for their ability to reduce powdery mildew in gerbera ‘Snow White’. The effect of calcium silicate in flower quality and the silicon uptake was also determined. Calcium silicate was not effective in reducing powdery mildew or in improving flower quality. The silicon content of gerberas treated with potassium silicate was slightly greater than that in plants treated with calcium silicate. However, the severity of powdery mildew was not reduced by potassium silicate. The results suggest that silicon may not be useful for managing this disease of gerbera daisy, possibly due to the low accumulation of silicon by gerbera leaves.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.