Effect of silicon on growth and salinity stress of soybean plant grown under hydroponic system

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is abundant in the soil, yet its role in plant biology has been poorly understood. The role of Si in soybean growth and its effectiveness in salt stress alleviation was investigated. Sodium metasilicate (Na 2 SiO 3 ) was given as Si source to hydroponically grown soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The plant growth attributes, i.e. plant height, plant fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll contents and endogenous gibberellins (GAs) level improved with 2.5 mM Si, while endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and free proline contents were not affected as compared to control. Sodium chloride (NaCl) significantly decreased growth attributes and endogenous gibberellins levels but markedly enhanced ABA and proline contents of soybean leaves. An addition of Si to salt stressed plants substantially alleviated the adverse effects of NaCl on growth, as it enhanced endogenous gibberellins, while reduced the levels of ABA and proline. GAs analysis of soybean leaves also showed that both early C13 hydroxylation and non C13 hydroxylation pathways of gibberellin biosynthesis were operating in soybean. The major GA biosynthesis pathway was identified as non C13 hydroxylation, which led to the formation of bioactive GA 4 . Current study suggests that Si application alleviates the detrimental effect of salinity stress on growth and development of soybean.

Silicon reduces aluminum content in tissues and ameliorates its toxic effects on potato plant growth

“…In addition, Si improves mineral absorption of plants, increasing the availability of some nutrients (PAVLOVIC et al, 2013) as nitrate and iron (GOTTARDI et al, 2012), causing an increase in biomass production (LEE et al, 2010). Exposure to Al caused a reduction in shoot and root dry weight in both genotypes, when compared with the control (Table 2), and the addition of Si did not ameliorate the toxic effects of Al on these parameters.…”

Response of Salt-Stressed Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) to Potassium Humate Treatment and Potassium Silicate Foliar Application

“…Abbas et al (2015) reported that foliar application of silicon increased proline, glycinebetaine, and total free amino acids in both shoots and roots of salt-stressed okra plant. Reduction in proline contents with silicon application under stress has been observed in many plant species such as soybean (Lee et al, 2010), maize (Moussa, 2006). Shekari et al (2015) observed that addition of silicon increased soluble carbohydrates content in plants grown under salt stress where, they act as a protective osmolyte; also they reported that application of silicon under saline condition could be a better strategy for maintaining the crop productivity.…”

Influence of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Bacteria and SiO2 Nanoparticles on Proline Content and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities of Tomato Seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under Salinity Stress

“…Concerning the effect of nanoparticles on salinity stress, Haghighi et al [36] showed that silicon nanoparticles significantly reduced the salinity-induced damage by affecting germination rate, root length, and dry weight of tomato seedlings. Lee et al [37] also stated that, under salinity stress conditions, silicon plays a crucial role in plant growth and regulates the content of endogenous gibberellin in the plant. Azimi et al [38] and Lu et al [39] also showed that the application of silicon nanoparticles significantly increased germination percentage and dry weights of roots and shoots of wheat and soybean, respectively.…”