Abstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of silicon (Si) and nano-silicon (NSi) on growth, yield, ions content, and antioxidant defense systems, including transcript levels of enzyme-encoding genes in Pisum sativum plants grown under salinity stress. Both Si and NSi were applied at the 3 mM level and NaCl was applied at 4 concentrations (100, 150, 200 and 250 mM). Vegetative growth, including plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry weights, and yield attributes were determined. Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes was analyzed, and their activities were determined. The results showed that salinity had deleterious effects on plant growth and yield. Salt-stressed plant leaves exhibited a greater activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), but a lower activity of catalase (CAT) when compared to the control. Na+ ions accumulated in roots and shoots of salinized plants. The application of Si and NSi significantly enhanced vegetative growth and relative water content (RWC), and caused significant increases in plant height, fresh and dry weight, total yield, and antioxidant defense systems. Si and NSi enhanced K+ content in roots and shoots under salinity treatment and decreased Na+ content in the studied tissues. It was concluded that the application of NSi was beneficial in improving the salt tolerance of Pisum sativum plants more than Si alone.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Juan BarcelóCrop production losses are being caused by increased soil salinization, which is a major global problem [1]
In comparison to the control, treatment of pea seedlings with Si induced slight increase in shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, number of leaves, and leaf area at the vegetative stage whereas more beneficial effect was recorded after NSi application
Shoot length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, and leaf area were gradually decreased by increasing salt concentration when compared with control, while root length was increased compared to that of the control
Summary
Academic Editor: Juan BarcelóCrop production losses are being caused by increased soil salinization, which is a major global problem [1]. With seeds containing 20–25% protein, 40–50% starch, and 10–20% fiber, it is high in protein, low in starch, and high in fiber [4,5]. It is consumed as immature seeds in Europe, Australia, America, and the Mediterranean, but as entire pods in Asia [6]. This plant is utilized in rotations with cereals for the supply of soil nitrogen, and is used as a fodder crop for animals [7,8]
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