Verticillium dahliae is a highly destructive fungal pathogen that causes an annual global product loss in cotton of 20%.

is a limiting factor for cotton production in Australia. As a soil-borne fungal pathogen, epidemiological, ecological and genetic features of Fov populations are strongly influenced by soil conditions.

Cotton production is an important rural industry in Australia. Disease pressure from emerging pathogens such as Thielaviopsis basicola threatens to reduce production.

A project investigating the molecular and histological effects of silicon application on cotton infected with Fov was inspired by promising preliminary results obtained by Dr Linda Smith (QPl&F) in glasshouse and