Silicon Soil Amendment and Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Inoculation Enhance Eggplant Defense Against Rhizoctonia solani by Promoting Growth and Mitigating Root Rot Stress.

Eggplant, an important global crop, faces severe threats from Rhizoctonia solani, causing damping-off, root rot, and stem canker. Conventional control methods are often ineffective, necessitating sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the synergistic potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and silicon (Si) to enhance eggplant resistance against R.

Productivity and Post-Harvest Fungal Resistance of Hot Pepper as Affected by Potassium Silicate, Clove Extract Foliar Spray and Nitrogen Application.

In the present study, growth and productivity of hot pepper planted in the two successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 were evaluated under the effect of foliar spray of variable doses of potassium silicate (PS), and clove water extract (CWE) with different rates of nitrogen (N) fertilization application. The post-harvest resistance of hot pepper fruits to fungal infection, was also evaluated. Maximum plant height was achieved with the application of the highest rates of N, PS and CWE, while the intermediate rates were sufficient to reach the maximum number of branches, the highest leaf dry matter and chlorophyll accumulation.