Silicon Application on Standard Chrysanthemum Alleviates Damages Induced by Disease and Aphid Insect

To elucidate the role of silicon in biotic stress such as pests and diseases, standard chrysanthemum was grown in pots filled with soil without application of pesticide and fungicide. Si treatment was largely composed of three groups: $K_2SiO_3$ (50, 100, and $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), three brands of silicate fertilizer (SiF1, SiF2, and SiF3) and tap water as a control. Si sources were constantly drenched into pots for 14 weeks. Application high concentration $K_2SiO_3$ ($200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) and three commercial Si fertilizers for 14 weeks improved growth parameters such as plant height and the number of leaves. In the assessment of disease after 4 weeks of Si treatment, percentage of infected leaves was not significantly different from that of control. After 14 weeks of Si treatment, however, the infected leaves were significantly reduced with a 20-50% decrease in high concentration ($200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) of potassium silicate and all commercial silicate fertilizers. Colonies of aphid insect (Macrosiphoniellas anborni) were also reduced in Si-treated chrysanthemum, showing 40-57% lower than those of control plants. Accumulation of silicon (approximately $5.4-7.1mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ dry weight) in shoots of the plants was higher in Si-supplemented chrysanthemum compared to control plants ($3.3mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ dry weight). These results indicate that using potassium silicate or silicate fertilizer may be a useful for management of disease and aphid insect in soil-cultivated chrysanthemum.