autotoxicity
Autotoxicity is a phenomenon in which plants release chemical compounds into the soil that inhibit the growth or reproduction of other members of their own species. This self-inhibitory effect is a major driver of continuous cropping obstacles, where replanting the same crop in a field year after year leads to declining yields and increased disease susceptibility. Understanding autotoxic mechanisms helps researchers develop crop rotation strategies and soil management practices to sustain agricultural productivity.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-07-07
Adding silicon to the soil can protect pepper plants from a natural toxin they produce themselves during intensive farming, restoring growth, photosynthesis, and fruit yield to near-normal levels.
1 mM silicon treatment increased plant height by 53.4%, stem diameter by 16.8%, and leaf number by 35.3% under phthalic acid stress
1.5 mM silicon reversed photosynthetic suppression, increasing net photosynthetic rate by 381.0% and chlorophyll content by 25.8%
Field trials confirmed 1 mM silicon restored pepper yield to control levels, improved fruit quality, and reduced disease-like symptom incidence