International Potash Institute
IPI K Centre - Potassium and Stress and Plant Disease

Of the mineral nutrients, K plays a particular role in contributing to the survival of crop plants under environmental stress conditions. Potassium is essential for many physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, translocation of photosynthates into sink organs, maintenance of turgescence, activation of enzymes, and reducing excess uptake of ions such as Na and Fe in saline and flooded soils (Cakmak, 2002. IPI golden jubilee congress, 1952-2002, Basel, Switzerland).

Potassium may affect the reaction of a plant to pest or disease by (IPI RT No. 3, 1990):

• Direct effects on the pathogen number, development, multiplication, survival, vigor, length of life cycle
• Direct effects on attack severity on host: by effects on the internal metabolism of the plant affecting food supply for the pathogen; by modifying the microclimate through changes in habit, density of growth, etc
• Effects on establishment of the pathogen and spreading within the plant - through effects on plant structure (e.g. cell wall and cuticle thickness, tissue firmness) - and through the functioning of the stomata
• Affecting the plant's ability to recover from pest or disease attack through the repair of damage or, more simply and most frequently, by a general improvement of growth.

The following items found on our web describe the various effects of potassium on stress relief and reduction of susceptibility of plants to pests and disease.

Publications

Papers and presentations

K in the literature