Silver for Plants: Fungicide
Silver (= Argentum) (Ag)
For the plant – fungicide
Silver – a constant component of plants.
It is believed that silver ions protect plants from fungal, viral, and microbial diseases. The bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal action of silver in plants is explained by the fact that its ions penetrate the pathogen’s cell and block its enzymes. Furthermore, silver ions can interact with thymine and guanine in the DNA molecule of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, causing disruption of DNA functions, inhibiting growth and reproduction.
The effectiveness of silver against fungi of the genus Phragmidium Link, which cause rose rust, against rust fungi that are the causative agents of leaf curl in fruit trees, against tobacco mosaic virus, and other plant diseases has been established.
In marine plants, it is about 0.025 mg%, in terrestrial plants – 0.006 mg% (from dry matter). Silver present in the soil is toxic to plants, however, it is absorbed much less efficiently than other heavy metals.
Excess silver in the soil leads to the inhibition of growth and reproduction of plants, generative organs are formed out of time, and they are often underdeveloped.
Medicinal plants containing silver:
• blue cohosh Polemonium coeruleum L., Polemoniaceae (rhizome with roots);
• common ginseng Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Araliaceae (roots);
• greater celandine Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae (herb);
• hoary alyssum Erysimum canescens Roth., Brassicaceae (herb);
• Indian tobacco Lobelia inflata L., Lobeliaceae (herb);
• lily of the valley Convallaria majalis L., Convallariaceae (leaves, herb, flowers);
• coltsfoot Tussilago farfara L., Asteraceae (leaves);
• foxglove Digitalis purpurea L., Scrophulariaceae (leaves);
• lingonberry Vaccinium vitis–idaea L., Ericaceae (leaves, fruits);
• mountain arnica Arnica montana L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• garden dill Anethum graveolens L., Apiaceae (fruits);
• papaya Carica papaya L., Caricaceae (fruits).
• blue cohosh Polemonium coeruleum L., Polemoniaceae (rhizome with roots);
• common ginseng Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., Araliaceae (roots);
• greater celandine Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae (herb);
• hoary alyssum Erysimum canescens Roth., Brassicaceae (herb);
• Indian tobacco Lobelia inflata L., Lobeliaceae (herb);
• lily of the valley Convallaria majalis L., Convallariaceae (leaves, herb, flowers);
• coltsfoot Tussilago farfara L., Asteraceae (leaves);
• foxglove Digitalis purpurea L., Scrophulariaceae (leaves);
• lingonberry Vaccinium vitis–idaea L., Ericaceae (leaves, fruits);
• mountain arnica Arnica montana L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• garden dill Anethum graveolens L., Apiaceae (fruits);
• papaya Carica papaya L., Caricaceae (fruits).