Mechanism of Nanosilicon-Mediated Alleviation of Salinity Stress in Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Plants

Abstract

Aims: In the current study we try to clarify the mechanism that might be involved in the ameliorating effects of Nano - silicon (NSi) and Silicon (Si) on faba bean ( Vicia faba ) plants grown under different levels of salinity stress that we found in a previous study. Study Design: Fact orial completely randomized design Pot experiments were used with NSi and Si applied at 4 concentrations each (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) and NaCl (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) were studied. Place and Duration of Study: Experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of t he Experimental Station, Faculty of Science, Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during winter season of 2012/2013. Methodology: Effects of NSi and Si on membrane characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, sugar content, free proline, antioxidant enzymes and mineral elements were investigated in NaCl stressed and non - stressed faba bean plants. The experiment was arranged in a factorial design with 4 replications at NaCl levels of 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM. The tested NSi and Si con centrations were 0, 1, 2 and 3 mM for each. Results: NaCl treatments caused an increase in proline content and in some enzyme activities, Chl a, b and carotenoids were decreased. Application of NSi caused a significantly increase in the activity of ascorba te peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in plant leaves, but