Abstract
After 400 mM of NaCl treatment, 0.1 and 1.0 mM of silicon (Si) were added to Kentucky bluegrass, ‘Perfection’ and ‘Midnight,’ to identify the effect of Si on the antioxidant defense mechanisms and inorganic ions as a parameter in the salt stress on grass. Compared to the control, the NaCl treatment caused a significant decrease in the shoot length and the fresh and dry weight of shoot and root of the both types of Kentucky bluegrass. Adding Si after the NaCl treatment increased the growth and dry and fresh weight of shoot and root in the grass. In both types, the Na + concentration significantly increased after the NaCl-only treatment compared to control and decreased dramatically after 0.1 and 1.0 mM Si were added following the NaCl treatment compared to the NaCl-only treatment. K + and Si concentrations remarkably increased in the shoot and root when Si was added after NaCl treatment. There was a significant reduction in the oxygen radical absorption capacity and the total phenolic compounds in the both types. Compared to the NaCl-only treatment, higher glutathione and lower proline concentrations were observed in the plant treated with Si after NaCl treatment. These results suggest that, even though Si is not generally classified as ‘essential element’, Si may have a significant involvement in the antioxidant defense mechanisms and inorganic ions in the salt stress on grass. Key words: diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic concentration, proline, salt stress.
Highlights
Among the plant species belonging to the Gramineae family, grass with a relatively excellent adaptability to various environments is often used to cover barren soil and with an increasing public interest in the quality of life and green environment, the use of grass has been extended in terms of range and areas
These results suggest that, even though Si is not generally classified as ‘essential element’, Si may have a significant involvement in the antioxidant defense mechanisms and inorganic ions in the salt stress on grass
The NaCl treatment caused a significant decrease in the shoot length and the fresh and dry weight of shoot and root compared to the control group (Table 1)
Summary
Among the plant species belonging to the Gramineae family, grass with a relatively excellent adaptability to various environments is often used to cover barren soil and with an increasing public interest in the quality of life and green environment, the use of grass has been extended in terms of range and areas. Due to the increased use and plantation of grass, there is a need to establish improvement measures with respect to the problematic factors that degrade the quality of grass. In regards to salt stress, which is one of the causes of reduced grass quality, damage is caused by high salinity arising from continuous fertilization and irrigation using underground water. The soil of sites near reclaimed or coastal areas has lower soil fertility and higher salt concentration compared to general soil and causes nutritional imbalances due to toxicity (mainly Na+ and Cl-), reduced water potential and inhibition of ion uptake and transport, leading to growth and physiological impairment (Munns and Termaat, 1986)
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