Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca) response to silicon nutrition in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) |
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| Authors: | Hassan Karimmojeni Mohammad Hossein Ehtemam Sima Javadimoghadam Amir Hossein Bazrafshan |
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| Institution: | Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran |
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| Abstract: | Egyptian broomrape is a root holoparasitic plant that causes severe damage to tomato in Iran. Experiments were conducted in 2013 to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) nutrition on broomrape response in tomato. Si concentration significantly delayed first appearance of broomrape and decreased number of tubercles in both cultivars, although the magnitude of reduction varied with cultivar and Si concentration. Broomrape infection significantly decreased root and shoot dry weights of tomato cultivars. However, Si nutrition at high concentration considerably reduced damage severity of broomrape compared to the treatment that received no Si. Infection of tomato with broomrape resulted in significant increase in peroxidase and catalase activity in the roots of resistant cultivar which led to enhanced crop resistance to oxidative stress and improved growth in this cultivar. |
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| Keywords: | Antioxidant Egyptian broomrape silicon soilless culture tomato |
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