Mineral nutrition for the management of rice diseases

Abstract

Mineral elements are applied to improve the plant health and yield. Host nutrition\rplays a crucial role in the outcome of the interaction between plants and pathogens.\rThough resistance and susceptibility are controlled genetically, a minor change in the\rnutritional status of the plants can have a considerable effect on severity of the disease.\rMineral nutrition plays a very important role in the prevention of plant disease. Balanced\rplant nutrition promotes plant vigour providing tolerance to pathogen infection, improve\rphysiological resistance to pathogen and affect the pathogen growth and multiplication.\rAlthough disease cannot be totally eliminated by any particular nutrient, the severity\rof the disease can be greatly reduced by manipulating the mineral nutrition of the\rplants. The present paper reviews thematically the role of nutrients in such management\rof diseases. Growers must use proper fertilizer programs, based on soil tests, plant\ranalysis and disease monitoring.