Silicon accumulation and its effect on agricultural traits and anthracnose incidence in lignocellulosic sorghum

Diego Tolentino De Lima,Weslei Geraldo Martins,Marcus Vinicius Sampaio,Hamilton Seron Pereira,Carlos Juliano Brant Albuquerque

doi:10.1590/1983-40632019v4954201

Diego Tolentino De Lima, Weslei Geraldo Martins + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632019v4954201

Copy DOI

Abstract

ABSTRACT Silicon (Si) accumulation in plants may reduce yield losses by inducing resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses. This study aimed to evaluate the Si accumulation by lignocellulosic sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in a greenhouse experiment, as well as the effect of its application on agricultural traits and on the induction of resistance against anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum) in a field experiment. Sixteen sorghum genotypes were evaluated in a greenhouse for their response to silicate fertilization, receiving either 0 kg ha-1 or 261 kg ha-1 of Si, measuring the Si concentration in the sorghum shoots. Four genotypes that were responsive to Si fertilization were tested in the field, receiving either 0 kg ha-1 or 400 kg ha-1 of Si, being evaluated the Si concentration on the leaves, plant height, lodging percentage, anthracnose disease severity, grain yield and plant fresh and dry matter. The response of sorghum to Si fertilization in the greenhouse varied with the genotype and, of the 16 genotypes evaluated, 12 were responsive, accumulating more Si after the fertilization with this element. All four genotypes tested in the field were responsive, but no effect of Si was observed on grain yield or on sorghum fresh and dry matter production. However, the soil Si application reduced the plant lodging and anthracnose severity ratings in sorghum.

Highlights

There is a general need, as non-renewable energy sources become more expensive, to develop renewable energy alternatives
This study aimed to evaluate the Si accumulation by sorghum in a greenhouse experiment and analyze the effect of Si application to the soil on agricultural traits and on the resistance induction against anthracnose in lignocellulosic sorghum in a field experiment, testing the hypothesis that Si accumulation is dependent on sorghum genotype and that Si soil application may improve crop traits and reduce anthracnose severity
The response of the sorghum genotypes to the Si fertilization was determined in an experiment carried out in a greenhouse of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in February 2015

Summary

Introduction

There is a general need, as non-renewable energy sources become more expensive, to develop renewable energy alternatives. By the year 2050, an increase of about 50 % is expected in the demand for food, forage, biofuels and other agricultural products (Fedoroff & Cohen 1999, Bruinsma 2011, Hall & Richards 2013). Research on renewable energy resources suggests that some lignocellulosic biomass crops may be able to supply raw materials for the production of second generation biofuels (Carlin & Rossetto 2014). Among these crops are fast growing 1.

Objectives

Methods

Results