RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect on R. solanacerum population and wilt development
Population of R. solanacerum was significantly reduced
(p < 0.05) in silicon fertilizer treated plants both
at 5 and 12 days post inoculation (dpi) compared to nonamended
for moderately resistant cultivar (Table 1) with
an average of 29.2 and 17.6% reduction, respectively.
Similarly, in sugarcane bagasse treatment, the bacterial
population was also significantly reduced compared to
the control treatment at 5 dpi but not at 12 dpi in moderately
resistant cultivar. However, no significant reduction
was obtained in bacterial populations in the moderately
susceptible cultivar for all treatments.