Considering the positive effect of silicon (Si) in improving the physiological performance of several plant species when infected by pathogens, this study investigated the effect of this element in the photosynthetic capacity and on the antioxidant metabolism of cotton plants from cultivars BRS NuOpal and Buriti, supplied or not with Si, during the infectious process of Ramularia areola. The infection by R. areola negatively affected the net carbon assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance to water vapor (g s), internal-to-ambient CO2 concentration ratio and transpiration rate on plants of the two cultivars non-supplied with Si in comparison to plants supplied with this element. In the presence of Si, there was an increase in A and g s as well as on the concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in plants of both cultivars. The Si supply increased the foliar Si concentration, which contributed to decrease the area under ramularia leaf spot progress curve by 38% in comparison to plants non-supplied with this element. The Si supply to both cultivars increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, but reduced catalase activity. The activity of glutathione reductase was higher on plants from cultivar BRS Buriti supplied with Si, while for the cultivar NuOpal the activity of glutathione reductase increased only after 21 days of inoculation (dai). There was reduction in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde until 15 dai and the electrolyte leakage was higher in plants supplied with Si in both cultivars. As compared to non-supplied plants, both cultivars presented increase on lipoxygenase activity when supplied with Si until 12 dai. It was concluded that the photosynthetic capacity and the antioxidative system of plants supplied with Si were less impacted during the infectious process of R. areola.
photosynthesis; leaf spot; mineral nutrition
