Role of Silicon in inducing fungal disease resistance in Rice

Rice is being consumed by many countries as a staple food, but simultaneously it encounters serious threats from various insect pests and diseases, which leads to its reduced production globally. Nevertheless, rice exhibits exceptional silicon accumulation, conferring resistance to various pathogens and alleviating both biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon (Si), is the second most abundant element present in earth's crust after oxygen, comprising about 28% of the total composition and accounting for up to 70% of soil mass. Si enhances plant mechanical and physiological traits, aiding in the mitigation of abiotic stresses like metal toxicity, drought, and salt stress. The most important mechanism of Silicon that induces disease resistance in rice and other crop plants comprises of physical Mechanism (formation of double-layered cuticle, enhanced cell wall rigidity), biochemical mechanism (activation of defense-related enzymes, and the production of antimicrobial compounds) and Molecular mechanism (regulation of transcriptomics, proteomics, and the regulation of systemic signaling). Numerous studies conducted, highlight the importance of silicon in improving plant resistance against innumerable fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases. This article focuses on the significant role of Si in rice disease management through the induction of host resistance. Furthermore, this article calls for attention to explore the role of Si as an innovative strategy for more robust and resilient crop production to sustain the ever-growing population worldwide.