Effects Of Silicon Application Research Articles

Effect of silicon application on rice plant defence against brown planthopper feeding under climate change conditions

Abstract Silicon (Si) is known to enhance plant resistance in rice and other Poaceae plants by priming chemical defence, physiological, and mechanical barriers. However, the effects of application of Si to the soil on plant defence through antioxidative enzymes and changes in the nutrient composition of soil and rice straw under climate change conditions remain unclear. Thus this study was aimed at investigating the effects of Si on plant defence and other biochemical changes in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål, 1854), soil and rice plants under elevated CO2 levels (570 ± 25 ppm) and elevated temperature (≃3°C higher than ambient) in open-top chambers (OTCs) during the rainy season of 2019 and 2020. The results revealed that under elevated CO2, Si amendment significantly enhanced the activity of defensive antioxidative enzymes, namely catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) upon BPH feeding in both plants and BPH, besides enhancing available forms of major nutrients, namely nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and minor nutrients, namely calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S), and Si in soil and rice plants. The antioxidative enzymes’ mediated plant defence and positive alteration of the nutrient composition of soil along with other reported plant defences, namely callose deposition, silicification, and positive alteration of photosynthesis-related parameters, indicated Si amendment as a potential alternative strategy for BPH management under climate change conditions.

Effects of Silicon Application on Nitrogen Migration in Soil–Rice Systems under Cadmium Stress

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a serious threat to plants and humans, which subsequently impairs sustainable agricultural production and ecosystem service. Silicon (Si) has been applied to mitigate Cd toxicity, but inevitably has direct and indirect impacts on nitrogen (N) behaviors in soil and plants. However, what role plants play in the N response to Si in soil–rice systems under Cd stress is not known. Therefore, the effects of Si on N migration through different pathways in the soil-rice system were systematically investigated in a rice-cultivation lysimeter experiment. The rice was planted in Cd-contaminated (5 mg kg−1) and uncontaminated soils with three levels of Si application (0, 100, and 200 kg SiO2 hm−2), and the contents of N and Cd in different forms in plants and soils were measured. The group without Cd and Si was set as CK. The study reported that Cd stress caused Cd accumulation in plants, inducing a decrease of 26.0~83.4% in plant dry weights and a decrease of 15.7~46.6% in N concentration compared with CK. Moreover, the leaching of N in soils was increased by Cd, in which the NO3−-N rather than the NH4+-N was leached out. These adverse effects on the plant growth and soil N loss were significantly alleviated by Si application in two ways: (1) the Cd availability in soils was reduced with the acid-extractable Cd (the Cd form with high mobility), decreasing from 1.07 to ~0 mg kg−1; (2) the Cd uptake and translocation in plants were restricted, with the Cd content decreasing by 59.1~96.4% and the translocation index decreasing from 17.7% to 2.2%. The combination of the two mechanisms consequently increased the N absorption of plants from 1.35 to 2.75~3.5 g. The results of the N mass balance calculation showed that, compared with soil N flux, plant-absorbed N contributed predominantly (43.9~55.6%) to the soil total N variation. Moreover, there is a significant trade-off between plant-absorbed N and soil N flux. The magnitude and direction of the soil N flux were greatly and negatively affected by plant-absorbed N during the flooding period. Hence, we conclude that Si application could reduce the leaching of N in soil–rice systems under Cd stress, mainly due to the promotion of the N absorption of plants rather than N immobilization in soils. This study provided new evidence that plants played a dominant role in N response to Si in soil-rice systems under Cd stress.

The effect of silicon application and salicylic acid on enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions of Scophularia striata L. under drought stress

Foliar spraying of salicylic acid (SA) and silicon (Si) was carried out as a moderator of drought stress on growth and antioxidant system in two different ecotypes of scrophularia striata as a medicinal plant. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design in three replications. The statistical analysis of the studied traits showed that drought stress decreased the length and weight (dry and fresh) traits of shoot, root and stem-to-root length ratio in Ilam ecotype, while the root length and root-to-stem length ratio increased in Abdanan ecotype. The interaction between salicylic acid (SA), silicon (Si) and drought stress caused an increase in root length and the root-to-stem length ratio in Abadanan ecotype, this interaction on root fresh weight was not significant. The application of drought stress led to a reduction in the content of total phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid in both ecotypes, but the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme increased in both ecotypes and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in Ilam ecotype. The interaction between salicylic acid (SA), silicon (Si) and drought stress increased the enzyme antioxidant activity, catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxide (GPX), as well as the content of flavonoid, ascorbic acid and phenol in Ilam ecotype (50% field capacity +drought stress) and Abdanan ecotype (50% field capacity). However, this interaction had no significant effect on the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme. The general results showed that the simultaneous use of SA and Si improves the antioxidant defense in Scrophularia striata under drought stress.

Effects of Silicon Application on Arsenic Sequestration in Iron Plaque and Arsenic Translocation in Rice

The As sequestration by iron plaque and the As translocation in rice significantly affect the As accumulation in brown rice, and silicon (Si) application inhibits the As accumulation in rice plants. However, little information is available concerning the effect of Si application on As sequestration by iron plaque and translocation in rice. In this study, a pot experiment using As-contaminated paddy soil with different Si supply levels was conducted to investigate the effects of Si application on the As sequestration by iron plaque on the root surface and the As translocation from different tissues to brown rice. The results showed that the Si2 (0.66 g·kg-1) treatment significantly increased the activities of CAT (1.81 times), SOD (7.98 times), and POD (1.25 times) in the roots, increased the DCB-extractable Fe concentration (44.35%), and promoted the roughness of iron plaque (108.91%), resulting in a significant increase in the DCB-extractable As concentration of iron plaque (88.32%). Moreover, the Si2 treatment significantly promoted the As accumulation in the roots and inhibited the As translocation from the roots and leaves to the brown rice, leading to a significant decrease in the brown rice As concentration (53.12%). The increase in As sequestration by iron plaque with Si application was attributed to the enhancement of iron plaque formation and the promotion of surface roughness of iron plaque, whereas the inhibition of As translocation from the roots and leaves to the brown rice in the Si application treatment was closely related to the competition between Si with As for transporters and the promotion of As-thiol complex formation and As compartmentalization in vacuolar. These findings provide more insight into the mechanisms of As translocation in rice and will be helpful for exploring strategies to reduce rice grain As through Si supply in As-contaminated paddy fields in South China.

Developmental, Reproduction, and Feeding Preferences of the Sitobion avenae Mediated by Soil Silicon Application.

Silicon occupies an important position in the nutrient requirements of wheat. It has been reported that silicon enhances plant resistance to phytophagous insects. However, only limited research has been carried out on the effects of silicon application to wheat and Sitobion avenae populations. In this study, three silicon fertilizer concentrations were treated for potted wheat seedlings, including 0 g/L, 1 g/L, and 2 g/L of water-soluble silicon fertilizer solution. The effect of silicon application on the developmental period, longevity, reproduction, wing pattern differentiation, and other vital life table parameters of the S. avenae were determined. The cage method and the Petri dish isolated leaf method were used to determine the effect of silicon application on the feeding preference of the winged and wingless aphid. The results showed silicon application had no significant effect on the aphid instar of 1-4; although, 2 g/L silicon fertilizer prolonged the nymph stage and 1 and 2 g/L of silicon application all shortened the adult stage and reduced the longevity and fertility of the aphid. Two instances of silicon application reduced the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the aphid. A 2 g/L silicon application prolonged the population doubling time (td), significantly reduced the mean generation time (T), and increased the proportion of winged aphids. The results also demonstrated that the selection ratio of winged aphids in wheat leaves treated with 1 g/L and 2 g/L silicon was reduced by 8.61% and 17.88%, respectively. The number of aphids on leaves treated with 2 g/L silicon was significantly reduced at 48 and 72 h of aphids released, and the application of silicon to wheat was detrimental to the feeding preference of S. avenae. Therefore, the application of silicon at 2 g/L to wheat has an inhibitory effect on the life parameters and feeding preference of S. avenae.

Effects of silicon application on leaf structure and physiological characteristics of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. and Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. under salt treatment

BackgroundSoil salinization leads to a significant decline in crop yield and quality, including licorice, an important medicinal cash crop. Studies have proofed that the application of exogenous silicon can significantly improve the ability of licorice to resist salt stress, however, few studies concentrated on the effects of foliar silicon application on the morphology, physiological characteristics, and anatomical structure of licorice leaves under salt stress. In this study, the effects of Si (K2SiO3) on the structural and physiological characteristics of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. and G. inflata Bat. leaves under different salt concentrations (medium- and high-salt) were studied.ResultsCompared with the control (without salt), the plant height, total dry weight, leaf area, leaf number, relative water content, xylem area, phloem area, ratio of palisade to spongy tissue, gas exchange parameters, and photosynthetic pigment content of both licorice varieties were significantly reduced under high-salt (12S) conditions. However, the thickness of the leaf, palisade tissue, and spongy tissue increased significantly. Applying Si to the leaf surface increased the area of the vascular bundle, xylem, and parenchyma of the leaf’s main vein, promoted water transportation, enhanced the relative leaf water content, and reduced the decomposition of photosynthetic pigments. These changes extended the area of photosynthesis and promoted the production and transportation of organic matter. G. uralensis had a better response to Si application than did G. inflata.ConclusionsIn conclusion, foliar application of Si can improve water absorption, enhance photosynthesis, improve photosynthetic capacity and transpiration efficiency, promote growth and yield, and alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on the leaf structure of the two kinds of licorice investigated.

Effect of silicon application with mycorrhizal inoculation on Brassica juncea cultivated under water stress.

Brassica juncea L. is a significant member of the Brassicaceae family, also known as Indian mustard. Water is a limiting factor in the successful production of this crop. Here, we tested the effect of water shortage in B. juncea plants supplemented with or without the application of silicon and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in total 8 different treatments compared under open filed conditions using a randomised complete block design (RCBD). The treatments under control conditions were control (C, T1); C+Silicon (Si, T2); C+My (Mycorrhiza; T3); and C+Si+My (T4). In contrast, treatments under stress conditions were S (Stress; T5); S+Si (T6); S+My (T7) and S+Si+My (T8), respectively. In total, we evaluated 16 traits, including plant response to stress by evaluating peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity. The fresh weight (g) increased only 7.47 percent with mycorrhiza (C+My) and 22.39 percent with silicon (C+Si) but increased 291.08 percent with both mycorrhiza and silicon (C+Si+My). Using mycorrhiza (S+My) or silicon (S+Si) alone produced a significant increase of 53.16 percent and 55.84 percent in fresh weight, respectively, while using both mycorrhiza and silicon (S+Si+My) together produced a dramatic increase of 380.71 percent under stress conditions. Superoxidase dismutase concentration (Ug−1 FW) was found to be increased by 29.48 percent, 6.71 percent, and 22.63 percent after applying C+My, C+Si and C+Si+My, but treatment under stress revealed some contrasting trends, with an increase of 11.21 percent and 19.77 percent for S+My, S+Si+My, but a decrease of 13.15 percent for S+Si. Finally, in the presence of stress, carotenoid content (mg/g FW) increased by 58.06 percent, 54.83 percent, 183.87 percent with C+My, and 23.81 percent with S+My and S+Si+My, but decreased by 22.22 percent with S+Si. Silicon application proved to be more effective than AMF treatment with Rhizophagus irregularis, and the best results were obtained with the combination of Si and AMF. This work will help to suggest the measures to overcome the water stress in B. juncea.

Effects of Silicon Application on Nitrogen Migration in Soil–Rice System Under Cadmium Stress

Effects of Silicon Application on Nitrogen Migration in Soil–Rice System Under Cadmium Stress

Effect of Silicon Application on Growth Response of Alfalfa Seedlings Grown under Aluminum Stress in Pots

Effect of Silicon Application on Growth Response of Alfalfa Seedlings Grown under Aluminum Stress in Pots

Nutrient availability affected by silicate and Azospirillum brasilense application in corn–wheat rotation

AbstractThe interactive effectof silicon (Si) application on soil fertility is poorly understood when inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense is performed. This research determined if Si application and A. brasilense inoculation to corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has agronomic benefits on soil nutrient concentration and grain yield. Treatments were tested under a no‐till system in a Rhodic Haplustox in a full factorial design with four replicates and comprised (a) two soil amendment sources—calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) silicate and dolomitic limestone; (b) with and without seed inoculation with A. brasilense; and (c) five sampling dates collected during two corn–wheat crop rotations (2015–2017). Calcium and Mg silicate application was effective at decreasing soil hydrogen + aluminum (H+Al) and Al content and increasing soil pH, sum of bases, and base saturation. However, silicate changed soil nutrient availability, reduced cation exchange capacity, phosphorus (P) and Mg content and did not significantly affect (p > .05) corn and wheat grain yield. Inoculation reduced Al toxicity, with lower H+Al and Al contents, and increased K content, leading to a greater pH and base saturation after four cropping seasons. Inoculation increased corn and wheat grain yield by 8.2 and 8.3%, respectively. Application of Ca and Mg silicate was more effective than limestone as a liming agent but could result in decreased availability of certain nutrients in soil. Inoculation with A. brasilense could be an important management practice to maintain adequate Si content in soil when limestone is applied. However, with silicate application, A. brasilense could increase Si depletion in soil.

Effects of silicon application on the biochemistry of passion fruit and performance of Dione juno juno (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Silicon (Si) is agronomically beneficial due to positive effects it provides to plant development, including the increased defensive response capacity against attack of herbivorous insects. This study evaluated the effects of applications of Si sources via soil and foliar sprays on yellow passion fruit biochemistry and Si-induced resistance to feeding preference and development of the major passion fruit pest, Dione juno juno. Two independent experiments were conducted with applications of calcium silicate (78–88% SiO2) via soil and as foliar sprays with the commercial product AgriSil® (98% SiO2) to plants of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa in a greenhouse. Four doses were tested for each Si source plus a control treatment. Biochemical analyses in the plants included the concentrations of Si and total phenolics, and activities of the enzymes peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Si-induced resistance to D. juno juno was investigated in feeding assays in the laboratory and on the insect’s development on potted-plants in the greenhouse. As main results, calcium silicate favoured the increase in Si content and the activities of POX and PAL, in addition to negatively affecting larvae feeding preference, leaf area consumed, and adult-stage parameters of D. juno juno. Agrisil led to increased Si content, total phenolics concentration, and POX activity, but did not affect the feeding preference, performance, and development of D. juno juno. Calcium silicate is promising for use in integrated pest management and could provide benefits to passion fruit production by reducing the economic losses by D. juno juno attack.

Effect of Silicon Application on Growth, Yield and Uptake of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Two Different Soils

Two pot experiments were conducted to study the effect of silicon application on growth, yield and uptake of rice plant, to observe the response of silicon fertilization in relation to two different soils and to evaluate the optimum rate of silicon fertilizer for rice production in each soil during dry and wet season, 2019 at Department of Soil and Water Science, YAU. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The main plots were soil types; Shwebo and Yezin soils and sub plots were levels of silicon with Si 0, Si 100, Si 150, Si 200 and Si 250 kg·ha-1. Urea, T-super and Potash fertilizers were applied at recommended dose of DAR (85:12:31 kg·ha-1 NPK). The calcium silicate fertilizer was used as a silicon source. In dry season, Shwebo soil provided the higher tiller numbers, grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake than Yezin soil. In both seasons, panicle numbers per hill were higher in Shwebo soil and panicle length and spikelets per panicle were higher in Yezin soil. The effect of silicon application on grain yield and Si uptake was found in the second season. The maximum grain yield was achieved from the application of Si 250 kg·ha-1 which was not statistically different from the application of Si 200 kg·ha-1. According to this study, the application of Si 200 kg·ha-1 in combination with the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers could be used to give the optimum grain yield in two soils. Silicon uptake of rice was significantly increased by all the silicon levels compared to control in two soils. A significant interaction was not observed in all parameters in this study.

Effect of Silicon Application on Growth and Biomass Yield of Rice Under Salinity Stress

Effect of Silicon Application on Growth and Biomass Yield of Rice Under Salinity Stress

Effects of silicon on some morphological and physiological traits of rose (Rosa chinensis var. minima) plants grown under salinity stress

Miniature rose (Rosa chinensis) is an ornamental and commercial plant having many applications, especially in green space design. One of the major environmental factors limiting the cultivation of this plant is salinity. This study investigated the effect of silicon application on the morphological and physiological responses of miniature rose under the salinity stress conditions in 2018. A factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. Experimental factors were including the salinity (0, 3 and 6 m mos/m) and silicone fertilizer (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L nano silicon, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L potassium silicate). The results indicated that salinity stress leads to a significant reduction in the plant height, leaf area, vase life, fresh weight of the plant, number of flowers, stem diameter, peduncle, open flower diameter, flower life on plants and chlorophyll a and b concentrations. Under the salinity of 6 dS/m without applying silicon, the activity of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase enzymes was 2.44 and 2.25 fold with respect to the control, respectively. Upon applying the silicon treatment, the concentration decrement of potassium, phosphorous, iron and zinc was reduced in the shoots of rose. Application of potassium silicate and nano silicon at concentrations of 1000 mg/L had the greatest effect on the improvement of studied traits. Therefore, adding the silicate fertilizers to saline soils can reduce the negative effects of salinity stress on the miniature rose plant var. minima.

Efeito da aplicação de silício na germinação de sementes de pimenta sob estresse salino

O objetivo do presente estudo foi de avaliar a germinação de sementes de Naga Jolokia (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) sob estresse salino com efeito da aplicação de doses de silício. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, com nove tratamentos (doses de cloreto de sódio associados com Silício) e quatro repetições, constando de 36 unidades experimentais. Para o estresse salino foi empregado concentrações de cloreto de sódio nas doses de 0; 3,5 e 4,5 dS m-1, e como fonte de silício utilizou-se dióxido de silício, sendo aplicadas as seguintes doses: 0, 30 e 60 g de silício 100 kg sementes-1. As variáveis analisadas foram plântulas anormais, plântulas mortas, germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, comprimento da parte aérea e de raiz e massa fresca e seca. Os resultados da análise de variância evidenciaram diferença significativa para os tratamentos (P>0,05), para as variáveis plântulas anormais, plântulas mortas, germinação, índice de velocidade de emergência e massa seca de plântula, indicando efeito positivo da aplicação do silício, concluindo que condições de elevada salinidade, influenciam de forma negativa as variáveis observadas, porém, nos tratamentos com salinidade a adição de silício ajuda a atenuar o estresse na planta.

Effect of Silicon Application on Soil Properties and Minerals Content Under Drought Stress

Effect of Silicon Application on Soil Properties and Minerals Content Under Drought Stress

The role and yield-forming effect of silicon application based on the example of global research

The role and yield-forming effect of silicon application based on the example of global research

Effect of Silicon Application on Wheat Under Boron Stress

In this study, effects of different silicon (Si) concentrations (0.75, 5, 10 mM) on wheat under boron(B) stress, investigated by means of some stress indicators such as tissue length, malondialdehyde (MDA), ion leakage, relative water content (RWC) and total chlorophyll content. Stress mitigating effects of silicon were observed mainly as reductions on membrane damage with reduced MDA concentrations and decreased ion leakage levels. Although necrosis was present on shoot tissues due to the boron stress, no significant change observed on shoot and root length with the application of Si. On the contrary, relative water content (RWC) has changed positively with the implementation of Si under boron stress. Furthermore Si has enhanced RWC level in Si+B co-applicated sets to the level of control plants. Total chlorophyll content increased with the existance of 0.75 and 5 mM Si, while 10 mM Si had no effect on the chorophyll content under boron stress. Overall, silicon was found to have a potential to alleviate boron stress in wheat production.

Constitutive and induced resistance of Brachiaria spp. to Collaria oleosa (Hemiptera: Miridae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of silicon application on the constitutive resistance of Brachiaria spp. and on the induced resistance of these grasses to attack by the mirid bug Collaria oleosa by examining the mechanisms of antibiosis and tolerance. Silicon application did not significantly affect the length of development or the survival of the insect pest. The genotypes CNPGLBR39, CNPGLBR43, CNPGLBR97, and CNPGLBR100 and B. brizantha were selected because they show constitutive resistance to mirid bug. In the second trial, CNPGLBR7 and B. brizantha (resistant) and CNPGLBR100 (susceptible), selected based on the results of the first test, were treated with silicon. Ten days after silicon application, these plants were attacked by mirid bugs at different densities. Silicon had no significant effect on the loss of forage dry mass and chlorophyll content; however, plants responded to silicon with reduced insect damage and less functional loss. In Brachiaria attacked by eight C. oleosa adults, chlorophyll was reduced, and the functional loss, damage score and number of injured leaves increased.

Effects of Silicon Application on Uptake of Arsenic and Phosphorus and Formation of Iron Plaque in Rice Seedlings Grown in an Arsenic-Contaminated Soil.

Silicon (Si) plays important roles in improving rice growth and mitigating rice arsenic (As) uptake. In the present study, a pot experiment was carried out to investigate effects of Si application on uptake of As and phosphorus (P) and formation of iron (Fe) plaque on root surface of two rice cultivars (Zhendao 10 and Nanjing 44) grown in a high As-contaminated soil. The results showed that dry weights of shoots and roots for both rice cultivars didn't significantly varied under low Si level, but significantly increased for Zhendao 10, while decreased for Nanjing 44 under high Si level (p < 0.05). As concentrations in shoots and roots of Nanjing 44 significantly decreased for low Si level, while significantly increased for high Si level (p < 0.05). Different from Nanjing 44, effect of Si application on As concentrations in the plants of Zhendao 10 wasn't significant (p > 0.05). Si significantly increased concentrations of P in shoots and roots of both rice cultivars (p < 0.05). However, Si didn't significantly affect formation of Fe plaque on root surface. These results suggest that the effects of Si application on rice growth and As uptake in As-contaminated soils may depend on type of rice cultivar and Si application level. Rice cultivar and Si application rate should be considered when Si application is used to mitigate As accumulation in rice.