PHYTOCIL

Silicon in plants

Silicon does not form a constituent of any cellular components but primarily deposited on the walls of epidermis and vascular tissues conferring strength, rigidity and resistance to pests and diseases. Although no biochemical role has been positively identified in the development of plants, it has been proposed that enzyme silicon complexes formed are found to protect or regulate photosynthesis. Silicon was found to suppress the activity of certain enzymes and suppression of invertase particularly resulted in greater sucrose production in sugarcane and the reduction in phosphatase provided a greater supply of essential high energy precursors needed for optimum growth. It was also suggested that silica in plants filter harmful ultraviolet radiation reaching leaf surface with leaf cells acting as windows transmitting the light energy to photosynthetic mesophyll and cortical tissues beneath epidermis, than that would occur if silica were absent . Silicon supply increased the photo assimilation of carbon and also promoted the assimilated carbon to the panicle in rice. Silica also plays a role in phosphorus nutrition and there is an interrelationship with phosphorus. Considering all these favorable effects, earlier workers investigated the role of exogenous application of siliceous materials to rice and sugarcane and the response varied with the soil types. The solubilized silicon has a larger interaction with other nutrients particularly phosphorus. The Si in solution renders phosphorus available to plants reversing its fixation as Si itself competes for phosphorus fixation sites in soil. It is to be noted here to some degree Si acts as a substitute for P in plant system. In soil system also application of silicates released more of phosphorus.

Phytocil nutrition reduces pest incidence

The silicon in plants was found to alleviate many biotic and abiotic stresses, leading to application of slicates either directly to crops or incorporate it into the fertilizers applied. Use of ashes in home grown lab lab to control aphids is an age old practice followed in rural India. The deposition of silica on epidermal layers offers a physical barrier to insects. Sucking pests and leaf eating caterpillars have a low preference for the silicified tissues than low silica containing succulent parts. Both physical and or biochemical defence system operates. Due to high silica content in silicon fertilized rice the penetration time of first instar larvae of yellow stem borer increased from 2.8 for 0.4 ppm Si to 21.2 for 47 ppm Si. When seedlings, in the nursery was fertilized with silicon through black-grey ash of burnt rice hulls the stem borer damage (dead heart) was reduced in the transplanted main field. The incidences of stem maggots, green leaf hopper, brown plant hopper and white backed plant hopper, leaf folder etc. were reduced due to silicon nutrition. Application of silicon to corn affected the biological development of the Spodoptera. In wheat and sorghum silicon negatively affected the preference and reduced reproduction rates of the green bug Schizophis graminum

Induction of disease resistance and disease suppression

The mechanism for Si-induced resistance to diseases is due to (i) Si acting as a physical barrier and (ii) soluble Si acting as a modulator of host resistance to pathogen. Si is deposited beneath the cuticle to form a cuticle-Si double layer which mechanically impede penetration of fungi and thus disrupt the infection process. In rice-blast system increased resistance through Si application was associated with the density of silicified bulliform, long and short cells in leaf epidermis which acted as a barrier and decreased the number of blast lesion.

It was also postulated that Si might form complexes with the organic compounds of cell walls of epidermal cells, thus increasing their resistance to enzymes elaborated by the pathogen. The soluble Si can produce phenolics and phytoalexins in response to infection by pathogen. The antifungal compounds like momilactones were found to accumulate in Si amended rice plants. These acted against blast pathogen. In cucumbers Si enhanced the activity of chitinases, peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases when cucumber roots were colonized by Pythium. Silicon nutrition suppressed the leaf and neck blast, brown spot, sheath blight, leaf scald, grain coloration, stem rot, bacterial leaf blight and root knot nematode infection in rice. Silicon nutrition was found to suppress ring spot in sugarcane, powdery mildews in cucumber, wheat, barely etc. rust in cowpea.

Role of Phytocil in alleviating abiotic stress

Phytocil nutrition also alleviate many abiotic stresses including physical stress like lodging, drought, radiation, high temperatures, freezing, UV and chemical stress like salt, metal toxicity, nutrient imbalance and many others . The beneficial effects are attributed to Si deposition in cell walls of roots, leaves, culms and hulls. Si deposition in roots reduces the binding sites for metals resulting in decreased uptake and translocation of salts and toxic metals from roots to shoot. Phytocil alleviated effects have been associated with an increase in antioxidant defense abilities.

Phytocil has a suprisingly large number of functions in Plants

The strengthening of epidermal cells in leaves and stems. Confers non lodging. It is important constituent of DNA and RNA, i.e. Silica deficiency decreases the synthesis of proteins and chlorophyll.

Decreasing toxicity:

Silica regulates plants uptake of iron, manganese and aluminium. The infamous toxicity of these elements in acid soil can be counteracted with soluble silica.

Water balance:

Low silica content increases the transpiration rate (water loss through leaves) creating poor water-use efficiency.

Improved plant growth and yield:

Published research catalogues increased root growth in grasses, spectacular yield increases for cucumbers (1500%), 30% to 50% in cane, and substantial increased yield in beets. Increased rates of photosynthesis partially due to stronger stems producing more erect leaves, which capture more sunlight.

Improved reproduction:

Studies have found enhanced pollination in tomatoes and better pollen fertility in cucurbits. Increases pest and disease resistance. Increases the grain yield and reduces chaffiness

How does Phytocil help?

1. Invigorates flowering to enable greater yield.
2. Maintains water levels in plant system.
3. Increases shelf-life of fruits and vegetables.
4. Allows seeds to grow even under salt or water stress.
5. Aids in growth of roots and improves absorption of nutrients.
6. Develops immunity in plants to fight against fungus, insects, virus & nematodes, etc. You can check out our research to see the results of use with and without phytocil.

Other benefits

Improves uptake and utilization of all other nutrients to help reduce dosages of other inputs.

Restricts penetration of fungal germ tube and kills fungal hyphae that penetrate cells.

Prevents absorption of toxic metals and protects the crop. There are even more benefits from which you can profit.

Dose:

40 kg/ac