This study elucidated, through analytical pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, changes in the chemical composition of lignin on leaf sheaths of rice plants of cultivars BR-Irga 409 and Labelle supplied or non-supplied with silicon (Si) and infected with Rhizoctonia solani. The Si concentration on leaf sheaths of plants supplied with this element was significatively higher (2.7 dag kg-1) as compared to non-supplied plants (0.45 dag kg-1). In the presence of Si, the area under leaf sheath blight progress curve was significantly reduced by 19 and 25% for plants from cultivars BR-Irga 409 and Labelle, respectively, in comparison to the absence of Si. Based on the mass spectra obtained, 33 compounds were identified, 10 of which were products from the degradation of carbohydrates and 23 derivate from lignin. From lignin derivatives, eight compounds were p-hydroxiphenil type, eleven compounds were guaiacyl type and four compounds were syringyl type. On leaf sheaths of both cultivars, the concentration of lignin (p-hydroxiphenil, syringyl (S) and guaiacyl (G)) was around 15%, regardless of Si. There was no increase in the S/G ratio only for the leaf sheaths of BR-Irga 409 supplied with Si and infected with R. solani. High Si concentration on leaf sheaths of both cultivars, which in turn resulted in an increase in the S/G ratio, contributed to reduce leaf sheath blight symptoms.
host resistance; lignin; secondary metabolites; sheath blight
