Growth Enhancement and Resistance of Banana Plants to <em>Fusarium</em> Wilt Disease as Affected by Silicate Compounds and Application Frequency
2024
Md Aiman Takrim Zakaria | Siti Zaharah Sakimin | Mohd Razi Ismail | Khairulmazmi Ahmad | Susilawati Kasim
The amendment of soils with silicate (Si) compounds is essential to promote growth performance and control <i>Fusarium</i> wilt disease in bananas. Two successive greenhouse trials were conducted at the experimental farm of the University of Putra Malaysia. The treatments were arranged in split plots using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates to investigate the effects of Si compounds and application frequency on controlling FOC. Si compounds were used at a constant concentration of 0.1%: T0 (control), T1 (13% SiO<sub>2</sub>:20% K<sub>2</sub>O), T2 (26.6% SiO<sub>2</sub>:13.4% K<sub>2</sub>O) and T3 (36.2% SiO<sub>2</sub>:17% Na<sub>2</sub>O). There were three application frequencies by day intervals (DI): 0DI (without any application), 7DI (12× within 12 weeks after transplanting (WAT)), 15DI (6× within 12 WAT) and 30DI (3× within 12 WAT). From these findings, we observed that the photosynthesis rate started to increase from 10.6 to 19.4 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>−2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup>, when the total chlorophyll content started to increase from 3.85 to 7.61 mgcm<sup>−2</sup>. The transpiration rate started to increase from a value of 1.94 to 4.31 mmol H<sub>2</sub>O m<sup>−2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup>, when the stomata conductance started to increase from 0.237 to 0.958 mmol m<sup>−2</sup>s<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>. The proline content started to increase from 22.89 to 55.07 µmg<sup>−1</sup>, when the relative water content started to increase from 42.92 to 83.57%.
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