Abstract
Although silicon (Si) is not recognized as an essential element for general higher plants, it has beneficial effects on the growth and production of a wide range of plant species. Si is known to effectively mitigate various environmental stresses and enhance plant resistance against both fungal and bacterial pathogens. In this review, the effects of Si on plant–pathogen interactions are analyzed, mainly on physical, biochemical, and molecular aspects. In most cases, the Si-induced biochemical/molecular resistance during plant–pathogen interactions were dominated as joint resistance, involving activating defense-related enzymes activates, stimulating antimicrobial compound production, regulating the complex network of signal pathways, and activating of the expression of defense-related genes. The most previous studies described an independent process, however, the whole plant resistances were rarely considered, especially the interaction of different process in higher plants. Si can act as a modulator influencing plant defense responses and interacting with key components of plant stress signaling systems leading to induced resistance. Priming of plant defense responses, alterations in phytohormone homeostasis, and networking by defense signaling components are all potential mechanisms involved in Si-triggered resistance responses. This review summarizes the roles of Si in plant–microbe interactions, evaluates the potential for improving plant resistance by modifying Si fertilizer inputs, and highlights future research concerning the role of Si in agriculture.
Highlights
Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element after oxygen in the earth’s crust, and comprises up to 70% of soil mass (Epstein, 1994; Savant et al, 1997; Ma and Yamaji, 2006)
The opposite effect was found in soybeans, in which Si application reduced the basal antioxidant enzyme activity of leaves during Cercospora sojina infection, leading to an increase in host susceptibility to frogeye leaf spot. These findings suggest that Siinduced resistance to plant disease was most likely due to the less than optimal conditioning of the antioxidant system (Telles Nascimento et al, 2016)
Si may act at a molecular level to regulate the expression of genes involved in the defense response
Summary
Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element after oxygen in the earth’s crust, and comprises up to 70% of soil mass (Epstein, 1994; Savant et al, 1997; Ma and Yamaji, 2006).
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