Potassium silicate in the induction of resistance in coffee seedlings against Cercospora coffeicola

The objective of this work was to study the effect of potassium silicate doses in greenhouse and field conditions, for the protection of coffee seedlings against Cercospora coffeicola, and to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate on the activities of peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and on the content of lignin, carotenoids and chlorophyll a and b. Potassium silicate was tested in greenhouse at doses 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mL/L of water. In these conditions, the dose of 1.5 mL/L provided greater protection against brown eye spot on coffee seedlings, this dose having been chosen for the field trial and biochemical determinations. In the field, potassium silicate provided protection of 31% in relation to the control, while the fungicide mixture of the epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin provided 61% of protection. Part of this protection conferred by potassium silicate can be explained by the increase in the activities of peroxidases, polifenoloxidases and the higher accumulation of lignin.