Abstract
Silicon (Si) has never been acknowledged as a vital nutrient though it confers a crucial role in a variety of plants. Si may usually be expressed more clearly in Si-accumulating plants subjected to biotic stress. It safeguards several plant species from disease. It is considered as a common element in the lithosphere of up to 30% of soils, with most minerals and rocks containing silicon, and is classified as a “significant non-essential” element for plants. Plant roots absorb Si, which is subsequently transferred to the aboveground parts through transpiration stream. The soluble Si in cytosol activates metabolic processes that create jasmonic acid and herbivore-induced organic compounds in plants to extend their defense against biotic stressors. The soluble Si in the plant tissues also attracts natural predators and parasitoids during pest infestation to boost biological control, and it acts as a natural insect repellent. However, so far scientists, policymakers, and farmers have paid little attention to its usage as a pesticide. The recent developments in the era of genomics and metabolomics have opened a new window of knowledge in designing molecular strategies integrated with the role of Si in stress mitigation in plants. Accordingly, the present review summarizes the current status of Si-mediated plant defense against insect, fungal, and bacterial attacks. It was noted that the Si-application quenches biotic stress on a long-term basis, which could be beneficial for ecologically integrated strategy instead of using pesticides in the near future for crop improvement and to enhance productivity.
Highlights
Silicon, a semi-essential element, induces protection against biotic and abiotic stressors in plants [1,2,3,4]; being a major component in soil, it is not yet accepted as a necessary component of plant life
The biological characteristics of S. frugiperda were non-significantly correlated with increasing levels of Si, phenols, tannins, and potassium levels in plant leaves
Due to Si application on plants, two mechanisms involved in boosting enzyme activity and antifungal chemical compounds could elicit a defense mechanism comparable to systemic acquired resistance (SAR) [183], and biochemical and physiological pathways may be implicated in the silicon-mediated disease resistance in plants
Summary
A semi-essential element, induces protection against biotic and abiotic stressors in plants [1,2,3,4]; being a major component in soil, it is not yet accepted as a necessary component of plant life. The various adaptive strategies offered Si-enhanced fungal disease resistance [15,16,18,28] and were found to be linked with significantly higher Si deposits in leaves as a potent physical barrier against the penetration ability of pathogens. Keeping such unique contributions of Si, such as immunizing any higher biological system against biotic diseases, present in the review are accommodated by recent scientific updates for plant disease resistance influenced by Si through augmentation of antimicrobial chemical synthesis, enzymatic activity, and signaling pathways, which could be useful for researchers in times to come for crop protection and its productivity
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