Silicon deficiency promotes lignin accumulation in rice

Abstract

Although both lignin and silica accumulate on cell walls and confer rigidity, mechanical strength, and resistance to pathogen invasion in rice, it remains unclear whether silicon de ciency a ects lignin accumulation. We demonstrate that low silicon rice mutated in a silicon in ux transporter, Lsi1, or a silicon e ux transporter, Lsi2, contained larger amounts of lignin in the rice straws. Furthermore, wild-type rice cultivated on low silicon media also accumulated larger amounts of lignin in shoots. Signi cant accumulation of guaiacyl lignin upon silicon de ciency was determined by nitrobenzene oxidation analysis. ese data indicate a negative correlation between silicon accumulation and lignin deposition.