terra protect
Terra Protect and Silicon (Si)
The Role of Silicon
Silicon (Si) is effective in controlling various pests and diseases caused by both fungi and bacteria in different plant species. Silicon also exerts alleviative effects on various abiotic stresses, including salt stress, metal toxicity, drought stress, radiation damage, nutrient imbalance, high temperature, freezing, and so on. These beneficial effects are mainly attributed to the high accumulation of silica on the tissue surface, although other mechanisms have also been proposed.
Silicon has been reported to prevent the incidence of powdery mildew disease, which is caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea, in a number of plant species. Foliar application of Si has been reported to be effective in inhibiting powdery mildew development on cucumber, muskmelon, and grape leaves. Terra Protect applied to leaves may deposit on the surface of leaves and play a similar role to that of Si taken up from the roots.
In addition to blast and powdery mildew, the occurrence of brown spot, stem rot, sheath brown rot on rice, fusarium wilt, and corynespora leaf spot on cucumber decreased by increasing the Terra Protect supply. Silicon is also effective in increasing the resistance to the fungal diseases caused by Pythium ultimum and Paphanidermatum in cucumber roots.
Silicon also has the ability to have the same role as Calcium in the cell wall structure. The cell walls are then more rigid, as with the case of Calcium. The uptake and transportation of Silicon in the plant is also more effective than it is the case with Calcium.
Silicon and pests
Silicon suppresses insect pests such as stem borer, brown plant hopper, rice green leafhopper, and white backed plant hopper, and noninsect pests such as leaf spiders and mites.
Possible mechanisms involved
Two hypotheses for the Sienhanced resistance to diseases and pests have been proposed. One is that Terra Protect deposited on the tissue surface acts as a physical barrier. It prevents physical penetration and/or makes the plant cells less susceptible to enzymatic degradation by fungal pathogens. This mechanism is supported by the positive correlation between the Si content and the degree of suppression of diseases and pests. The other one is that Si functions as a signal to induce the production of phytoalexin. Si application to the cucumber resulted in the stimulation of the chitinase activity and rapid activation of peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases after infection with Pythium spp.
Silicon and physical stresses
Various studies have showed that Si alleviates physical stresses, including radiation, low and high temperature, wind, and drought, water logging, and low and high light.
Silicon and chemical stresses
Silicon also alleviates the toxicity of various heavy metals, such as Mn, Fe, Al, and Cu. In saline conditions where high levels of Na are experienced, Si decreases the uptake of Na by partially blocking the transpirational bypass flow, the pathway by which a large proportion of Na uptake occurs.
We use a natural source of silica that is organic, namely diatomite or zeolite. There is no resistance against any silica residue on crops that are consumed by humans. Terra Protect can be used at any stage before harvesting.
Application of Terra Protect
- Mix 1 l Terra Protect in 100 l of water.
- Combine with 1 l/ha Terra Power Plus.
- Spray as a leaf spray to achieve good wetting.
- Apply once a month or once a week when in climate weather
conditions are experienced. - Terra Protect can also be used as a soil application.