Foundations Series #1: Silicon in Plant Health & Stress Resistance with Dr. Wendy Zellner (Originally Episode 98)
This episode is part of the Foundations of Soil & Plant Science series — a curated set of conversations that still shape how I think about plant health and cultivation today. Originally released as Episode 98, this discussion with Dr. Wendy Zellner is a deep dive into silicon and its role in plant structure, stress resistance, and defense responses. We explore how silicon functions in plant physiology, common misconceptions around its use, and what growers should understand when incorporating silicon into fertility programs. Still one of the most thorough conversations we’ve had on this topic.
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Show Notes
My guest for this episode is Dr. Wendy Zellner.
Dr. Zellner received her doctorate from the University of Toledo in 2012, where she trained in molecular and cellular biology with a focus on the role of silicon in plant defense responses. She then completed a four-year postdoctoral position with the USDA-ARS, continuing her research on how silicon can alleviate both abiotic and biotic stress in crops such as tomato and tobacco.
Her work has included developing standard methods for quantifying silicon uptake from fertilizer materials, identifying uptake mechanisms for silicon in model species, and evaluating how those pathways function across a range of crop systems.
In this conversation we cover:
The role of silicon in plant physiology and structure
Silicon and plant defense against abiotic and biotic stress
How plants take up and utilize silicon
Misconceptions around silicon fertilizers and supplements
Practical considerations for growers using silicon inputs
This remains one of the most comprehensive discussions we’ve had on silicon and plant health, and it continues to be highly relevant for growers looking to better understand how this element functions within a complete fertility program.
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