| Abstract: | The response of epidermal cells of cucumber leaf tissue infected by Sphaerotheca fuliginea was examined by light microscopy to understand how silicon in infected host cells affects host defence mechanisms. Leaf pieces from plants treated with nutrient solutions containing 0·05, 0·50 or 2·3 mm of silicon (Si) were harvested at intervals of 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after inoculation with the pathogen and examined after staining with toluidine blue or aniline blue. Si treatments significantly reduced the time to initiation of production and/or accumulation of phenolic materials in infected host epidermal cells, and increased the number of infected cells that produced and/or accumulated phenolics. The number of haustoria produced per colony of S. fuliginea was significantly reduced over time, and conidiophore development was delayed on the leaves of cucumber treated with 2·3 mm Si nutrient solution. |
