Effects of Soil and Foliar Application of Soluble Silicon on Mineral Nutrition, Gas Exchange, and Growth of Potato Plants

Abstract

Silicon can alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses in several crops, and it has beneficial effects on plants under nonstressed conditions. However, there is still doubt about foliar‐applied Si efficiency and Si effects on mineral nutrition, physiological processes, and growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants under well‐watered conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil and foliar application of soluble Si on Si accumulation, nutrients, and pigments concentration as well as gas exchange and growth of potato plants. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in pots containing 35 dm3 of a Typic Acrortox soil. The treatments consisted of a control (no Si application), soil application of soluble Si (50 mg dm−3 Si), and foliar application of soluble Si (three sprays of 1.425 mM Si water solution, prepared with a soluble concentrate stabilized silicic acid), with eight replications. Both soil and foliar application of Si resulted in higher Si accumulation in the whole plant. Foliar application of Si resulted in the greatest Si concentration in leaves, and soil application increased Si concentration in leaves, stems, and roots. Silicon application, regardless of the application method, increased leaf area, specific leaf area, and pigment concentration (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) as well as photosynthesis and transpiration rates of well‐watered potato plants. However, only soil application increased P concentration in leaves and dry weight of leaves and stems.

Role of silicon under water deficit stress in wheat: (Biochemical perspective): A review

“…The authors proposed a new biochemical status that could be partially responsible for the beneficial effects of silicon. A foliar application of soluble silicon in potato plants increased leaf area, specific leaf area, pigment concentration (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) as well as photosynthesis and transpiration rates of well watered potato plants (Pilon et al, 2013). In contrast, Suzuki et al (2012) stated a negative correlation between silicon accumulation and lignin deposition in rice.…”

“…Silicon is considered immobile in the phloem and redistribution of silicon in the plant is very low (Datnoff et al, 2001;Pilon et al, 2013). Thus, some studies have shown that foliar fertilization using small amounts of Si can be an alternative to soil uptake and stimulate its beneficial effects (Wang and Galleta, 1998).…”

Biostimulant activity of silicon in horticulture

“…Tuna et al (2008) also found that supplying Si to salt-stressed wheat can restore the chlorophyll level to that of non-stressed plants. Pilon et al (2013) measured a significant increase of net photosynthetic rates after both soil and foliar application of Si to non-stressed potatoes, which was associated with increased pigment concentration (chlorophyll a and carotenoids).…”

“…Stomata-related enhancement of net photosynthetic rates was found when Si improved also stomatal conductance and transpiration rates (Hattori et al, 2005(Hattori et al, , 2007Chen et al, 2011;Pilon et al, 2013). However, in most cases, the stimulatory impact of Si on the rates of net photosynthesis was associated with plant responses to Si not related to the stomatal aperture.…”

Evaluación de Si y Ca foliar en el crecimiento y tolerancia de complejo de necrosis foliar en palma aceitera

“…Este nutrimento puede llegar a concentrarse en las plantas en cantidades superiores a Ca, Mg, P, y K, principalmente en Poaceae (Epstein 1999y Ahmed et al 2012. El Si se absorbe de manera energéticamente pasiva de la solución del suelo en forma de ácido monosilícico y es depositado en la pared celular en forma de polímero hidratado o sílice amorfo (Ma y Yamaji 2006, Carneiro et al 2010citado por Lobo 2013, que se impregnan en una fina capa de 2,5 μm (Epstein 1999, Pilon et al 2013. Esta forma es ligeramente soluble en las hojas y corteza, lo cual convierte el ácido silícico en sílice coloidal y, posteriormente, en gel de síli-ce ("Opalo o fitólitos" SiO 2 -nH 2 O), mediante un proceso de polimeración o policondensación (Savant et al 1997y Da Costa et al 2005, Barros et al 2010.…”