Investigating Silicon Nutrition to Decrease Pythium Root Rot Severity in Snapdragons and New Guinea Impatiens

Abstract

Control of Pythium root rot in greenhouse production typically involves preventive fungicide applications that are costly, may run off to the environment, and are sometimes ineffective due to pesticide resistance. Adding silicon (Si) to the fertilizer regime has improved the Pythium response of several greenhouse vegetable crops. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Si may also improve the Pythium response of floriculture crops, but no research trials have been conducted. In this project we seek to determine if silicon applied in the fertilizer program can provide a pesticide free approach to reduce Pythium infection of snapdragons and New Guinea Impatiens.