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Updated: 04-07-13

USE OF SILICON IN INHIBITING THE GROWTH OF MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA

MUHAMMAD OMER KHAN^1*, AZIZUDDIN² AND SALEEM SHAHZAD³

Abstract: Silicon in the form of sodium silicate was found to be effective in reducing in vitro growth of Macrophomina phaseolina. Silicon was effective against M. phaseolina when added to the medium before autoclaving. There were no significant effects observed on growth of M. phaseolina when silicon was added to Potato Sucrose Agar (PSA) after autoclaving and before boiling. There was much more inhibition of pathogen observed when silicon was added to water agar with (2%) sucrose. Gradual reductions of growth were seen with increase concentration of silicon with different components of Potato Sucrose Agar.  

¹Department of Botany, Government Degree College for Boys 7-D/2 North Karachi, 75850, Karachi

²Department of Chemistry, Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Karachi-75300, Pakistan

³Pest and Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author’s e-mail: umarkhanbot@gmail.com