Exploring the Efficacy of Silicon Supplementation on Control of Rice Grain Discoloration Disease
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DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/agrieast.v13i1.59 Control of rice grain discoloration by silicon AGRIEAST 2019 Vol.13(1):1-11 Exploring the efficacy of silicon supplementation on control of rice grain discoloration disease Nasla, M F F1, Prasannath K1 and Gunapala K R D2 1Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka 2Pathology Division, Rice Research and Development Institute, Batalagoda, Sri Lanka Abstract Rice is the most important cereal crop in Sri Lanka. Grain discoloration is an emerging disease complex, reducing grain quality of rice crop. Grain discoloration control is, however, mainly focused on fungicide; their use is limited due to perceived environmental problem and health concern. Silicon (Si) application is known as encouraging eco-friendly alternative to fungicide. Foliar applications of Si- based formulations were evaluated to examine their effect on reducing grain discoloration disease. Field experiments were conducted at Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI), Batalagoda from May to September 2017. After planting, Si was applied as solution at the rate of 1 mL/L at tillering and early flowering stage. Fungicide and control (sterilized water) were applied as treatments at early flowering stage. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on plant height, total number of tillers per plant, chlorophyll content, yield, incidence of plant infection and percentage of grain discoloration were recorded. Laboratory study was carried out to isolate and identify the grain discoloration causing pathogens from the infected seeds by using potato dextrose agar plate method. Results revealed that incidence of plant infection and grain discoloration percentage were reduced by foliar application of silicon supplements as same as fungicide application. Among the Si-based formulations tested, Gainexa UPL gave the best result in controlling grain discoloration in rice. These silicon supplements could be used as alternatives to synthetic fungicide and could reduce the amount of fungicide needed during rice crop cultivation. Curvularia lunata and Curvularia pallescence were identified as the causal organisms of rice grain discoloration disease in the study area. Keywords: Grain discoloration, Rice, Silicon supplements, Synthetic fungicide 1. Introduction families are engaged in paddy cultivation in island-wide (Rodrigo, 2014). However, rice crop is threatened Rice is one of the most important cereal by different biotic and abiotic factors. food crops in the world. It is consumed Rice crop is threatened by more than 50 as a staple food and it provides more diseases which may appear at any than one fifth of the calories in the growth stage of the plant (Arshad et al., world for human consumption (Arshad 2009). The quality of rice is directly et al., 2009). Rice is also a single staple affected to marketable yield and food in Sri Lanka. The average per consumption of rice grain. Grain capita consumption of rice in Sri Lanka discoloration disease is an emerging is 114 kg per year per person (Roberia et disease complexes threaten for rice crop al., 2014). About 1.8 million farm seriously. Grain discoloration reduces Corresponding author: [email protected] http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4588-1983 Received: 19.10.2018 1 Accepted: 31.10.2018 grain quality very seriously and also and concern of food safety, reduces consumer preference on rice environmental friendly alternatives (Phat et al., 2005). Du et al. (2001) should be investigated to control rice reported that grain discoloration grain discoloration disease. affected milling recovery, cooking and eating quality, seed germination and Silicon (Si) application may offer an seedling height. encouraging alternative to fungicide use while enhancing host plant There are several reasons to cause the resistance (Datnoff et al., 1997; grain discoloration on rice crops such as Korndorfer et al., 1999). Si is beneficial panicle lodging, soil and climate for plants in terms of yield (Ghasemi et changes, and microbial infection. al., 2013), growth and resistance to Among these reasons, microbial biotic and abiotic stresses (Datnoff et al., infection is the major reason for the rice 1992). Addition of Si can decrease the grain discoloration disease (Agarwal et incidence of several diseases in rice al., 1989). It occurs due to the infection such as blast, brown spot, sheath blight, of microorganisms on the glumes, grain discoloration and disease kernel or both (Ou, 1985; Arshad et al., bacterial leaf blight (Jayawardana and 2009). A large number of fungi and Weerahewa, 2016). bacteria is associated with rice grain discoloration disease (Ou, 1985). The Various mechanisms have been fungi that are reported to be associated proposed to explain the increased level with discoloration of grains are Bipolaris of disease resistance mediated by Si. It oryzae, Alternaria padwickii, Pyricularia acts as a physical barrier, deposited oryzae, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusrium beneath the cuticle, to impede grminearum, Nigrospora oryzae, , penetration by fungal appressoria, Curvularia spp, Phoma sorghina, thereby disrupting the process of Dichotomophthoropsis nymphacearum and infection (Jayawardana et al., 2015). Si Heterosporium echinunulatum etc. (Ou, may signal a biochemical mechanism to 1985; Arshad et al., 2009). Suryadi and suppress fungal infection and disease Kadir (2009) reported that several (Weerahewa and Somapala, 2016). Si bacteria such as Pseudomonas avenae, could induce defense responses such as Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, Pseudomonas systemic acquired resistance syringae var. oryzicola, and Pseudomonas (Jayawardana and Weerahewa, 2016). glumae could cause rice grain Hence, inorganic form of Si would be discoloration disease. used as solution form to spray on the plant. The bioactive form of silicon Most of the studies showed that seed (orthosilicic acid) would be provided to treatment with synthetic fungicides plant as foliar spray to enhance the and foliar application of synthetic plant resistance against the rice grain fungicide are most effective to control discoloration. Therefore, the present rice grain discoloration disease study was conducted to determine the (Agarwal et al., 1989; Arshad et al., effect of silicon supplements on rice 2009). However, continuous use of grain discoloration disease and identify fungicides can lead to health and the pathogens causing rice grain environmental problems (Korndorfer et discoloration disease in the research al., 1999) and development of fungicide area. resistance of pathogen populations (Jayawardana and Weerahewa, 2016). Therefore, to address the current demand in sustainable crop production 2 2. Materials and Methods allowed for the natural infestation of grain discoloration pathogens. 2.1 Evaluation of the effect of silicon supplements on control of grain 2.3 Preparation and application of discoloration treatments A field experiment was carried out at Test solutions of the Si supplements the Rice Research and Development were prepared according to the label Institute (RRDI), Batalagoda, Sri Lanka, instructions. They were prepared at 1 during Yala season from May to mL/L concentration (1 ppm). Si September 2017. The following five supplements were applied two times treatments with three replications were during the crop life cycle. First arranged in Randomized Complete application of Si supplements was done Block Design. Treatments include three 40 days after transplanting (tillering different silicon supplements, a stage or just before the booting stage). synthetic fungicide and sterilized Second application was done 70 days water. Bg 370 variety was selected as after transplanting (at early flowering object for the field trial because more stage of the plant). The fungicidal seed discoloration has been observed in solution was prepared at the Bg 370 variety in Batalagoda. concentration of 1 mL/L (1 ppm). It T1 - Sterilized water (Control) was applied 70 days after transplanting T2 - Silicon 1 (Orthosilicic Acid in liquid (at early flowering stage of rice plant). form – Silicon solution) T3- Silicon 2 (Orthosilicic Acid in liquid form – Imported sample (Gainexa 2.4 Isolation and identification of UPL)) pathogens causing grain discoloration T4- Silicon 3 (Sodium metasilicate in Solid form (Silicon 17)) The laboratory experiment was carried T5- Fungicide (Azoxystrobin 200 g/L + out at the Pathology Laboratory of Cyproconazole 80 g/L SC fungicide) RRDI. Potato dextrose agar plate method was used to isolate the 2.2 Establishment of rice seedlings in pathogens from infected grains. The the field discolored seeds of Bg 370 were collected by using random sampling Healthy seeds of Bg 370 variety were method from each plot in the field. seeded at parachute nursery bed. The They were mixed thoroughly. From the seedlings were kept for 12 days in seed lot, 50 discolored seeds were nursery bed. After 12 days, selected randomly collected. The seeds were healthy seedlings were established in kept under the running tap water for 30 the field. Before the establishment of minutes. After prewashing of seeds, 25 rice seedlings, the field was divided seeds were directly planted on the into 15 plots. Each plot area was 18 m2. potato dextrose agar plates. Five seeds One meter spacing was maintained were planted on each agar plate. within the plots. Fertilizers were Another 25 seeds were surface applied according to the sterilized by using 70% of ethanol for 1 recommendation