Abstract
Exogenous silicon (Si) can enhance plant resistance to various abiotic factors causing osmotic stress. The objective of this research was to evaluate the application of 1 and 2 mM Si to plants under normal conditions and under osmotic stress. Morelos A-98 rice seedlings, were treated with 1 and 2 mM SiO2 for 28 d. Subsequently, half of the plants were subjected to osmotic stress with the addition of 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000; and continued with the addition of Si (0, 1 and 2 mM SiO2) for both conditions. The application of Si under both conditions increased chlorophyll b in leaves, root volume, as well as fresh and dry biomass of roots. Interestingly, the number of tillers, shoot fresh and dry biomass, shoot water content, concentration of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and the concentration of total sugars and proline in shoot increased with the addition of Si under osmotic stress conditions. The addition of Si under normal conditions decreased the concentration of sugars in the roots, K and Mn in roots, and increased the concentration of Fe and Zn in shoots. Therefore, Si can be used as a potent inorganic biostimulant in rice Morelos A-98 since it stimulates plant growth and modulates the concentration of vital biomolecules and essential nutrients.
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa) is an extremely important crop, being the staple food of more than half of the world’s population [1,2]; its production requires plenty of water throughout its growing cycle, so drought stress limits its growth and yield
The objective of this research was to evaluate the biochemical, physiological, and nutritional responses of the Morelos A-98 rice cultivar to the application of Si supplied as silicon dioxide (SiO2 ), to plants grown under conventional conditions in the absence of stress and under stress conditions induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Si in the presence of 10% PEG in the nutrient solution increased this variable by 12% as compared to plants exposed to 10% PEG with no Si addition (Figure 2B)
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa) is an extremely important crop, being the staple food of more than half of the world’s population [1,2]; its production requires plenty of water throughout its growing cycle, so drought stress limits its growth and yield. Drought has negative impacts on plant metabolism, generating morphological, biochemical, and physiological alterations that decrease production and yield [5,6]. Drought has been reported to decrease rice yield by up to 32.0%, and biomass production by. 35.2% [7], in addition to decreasing plant height, number of leaves [8], and the concentrations of chlorophyll a, b, and total [9], among other changes. These challenges make it necessary to search for alternatives to stimulate plant metabolism and successfully face these stress conditions. Plants can accumulate from 0.1 to 10.0% Si in their tissues [12,13]
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