Role of silica fertilizers on early events of infection by Pyricularia grisea in finger millet

Investigation was carried out on the effect of silica fertilizers (calcium silicate and sodium silicate) on early events of infection by Pryricularia grisea in different finger millet genotypes. The conidia germinated quickly on the leaf surface of the susceptible genotype K-7 compared to that of resistant genotype IE-1012 after 4 hr of inoculation. Significant reduction in the conidial germination, appressorium formation, appressorium diameter and germtube length of the pathogen was observed with an increased concentration of the silica and calcium silicate was superior over the sodium silicate in suppressing conidial germination, appressorium formation, appressorium diameter and gemtube length of the pathogen.