High silicon concentrations in grasses are linked to environmental conditions and not associated with C<sub>4</sub> photosynthesis

Brightly, William H.; Hartley, Susan; Osborne, Colin P.; Simpson, Kimberley J.; Strömberg, Caroline A.E.

doi:10.1111/gcb.15343

Cited by 17 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 147 publications

(308 reference statements)

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“…However, no such effects of atmospheric CO 2 were found in sugarcane [140] and Si-rich trees [309]. There is also no consistent difference in Si content between C 3 and C 4 grasses [310], which differ in their carbon use efficiency. Therefore, and also considering the lack of global-scale analysis, the case for a universal tradeoff remains disputed at this point [1].…”

Section: Form Location and Functionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Katz

Puppe

Kaczorek

et al. 2021

Plants

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Plants’ ability to take up silicon from the soil, accumulate it within their tissues and then reincorporate it into the soil through litter creates an intricate network of feedback mechanisms in ecosystems. Here, we provide a concise review of silicon’s roles in soil chemistry and physics and in plant physiology and ecology, focusing on the processes that form these feedback mechanisms. Through this review and analysis, we demonstrate how this feedback network drives ecosystem processes and affects ecosystem functioning. Consequently, we show that Si uptake and accumulation by plants is involved in several ecosystem services like soil appropriation, biomass supply, and carbon sequestration. Considering the demand for food of an increasing global population and the challenges of climate change, a detailed understanding of the underlying processes of these ecosystem services is of prime importance. Silicon and its role in ecosystem functioning and services thus should be the main focus of future research.

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Section: Form Location and Functionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Katz

Puppe

Kaczorek

et al. 2021

Plants

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“…The current study reinforces the concept that CO 2 can have significant impacts on Si defences in grasses, and establishes for the first time that higher Si accumulation under pre‐industrial CO 2 conditions is associated with increases in Si‐based physical defences, which potentially alter the performance of an insect herbivore. There is significant interest in the relationship between atmospheric CO 2 and the global Si cycle because of its linkage with the C‐cycle (Carey & Fulweiler, 2012), but models do not account for the potential declines in Si in vegetation associated with eCO 2 (Brightly et al, 2020). This is potentially because reports of how CO 2 impacts Si accumulation in plants are relatively recent (<5 years old), whereas the impacts on carbon and nitrogen have been investigated for decades.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Emissions of anthropogenically produced carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into the atmosphere continue to influence the climate (Brightly et al, 2020; Schellnhuber, 2008; Solomon et al, 2009). CO 2 concentrations are expected to double by the end of 21st century under some scenarios (IPCC, 2014), potentially affecting interactions between plants and herbivores (Robinson et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti‐herbivore silicon defences in a model grass are greatest under Miocene levels of atmospheric CO₂

Biru

Islam

Cibils–Stewart

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

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Silicon (Si) has an important role in mitigating diverse biotic and abiotic stresses in plants, mainly via the silicification of plant tissues. Environmental changes such as atmospheric CO 2 concentrations may affect grass Si concentrations which, in turn, can alter herbivore performance. We recently demonstrated that preindustrial atmospheric CO 2 increased Si accumulation in Brachypodium distachyon grass, yet the patterns of Si deposition in leaves and whether this affects insect herbivore performance remains unknown. Moreover, it is unclear whether CO 2 -driven changes in Si accumulation are linked to changes in gas exchange (e.g. transpiration rates). We therefore investigated how pre-industrial (reduced; rCO 2 , 200 ppm), ambient (aCO 2 , 410 ppm) and elevated (eCO 2 , 640 ppm) CO 2 concentrations, in combination with Si-treatment (Si+ or Si−), affected Si accumulation in B.distachyon and its subsequent effect on the performance of the global insect pest, Helicoverpa armigera. rCO 2 increased Si concentrations by 29% and 36% compared to aCO 2 and eCO 2 respectively. These changes were not related to observed changes in gas exchange under different CO 2 regimes, however. The increased Si accumulation under rCO 2 decreased herbivore relative growth rate (RGR) by 120% relative to eCO 2, whereas rCO 2 caused herbivore RGR to decrease by 26% compared to eCO 2 . Si supplementation also increased the density of macrohairs, silica and prickle cells, which was associated with reduced herbivore performance.There was a negative correlation among macrohair density, silica cell density, prickle cell density and herbivore RGR under rCO 2 suggesting that these changes in leaf surface morphology were linked to reduced performance under this CO 2 regime. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that increased Si accumulation under pre-industrial CO 2 reduces insect herbivore performance. Contrastingly, we found reduced Si accumulation under higher CO 2 , which suggests that some grasses may become more susceptible to insect herbivores under projected climate change scenarios.

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“…C3 grasses, for instance, are generally more responsive to eCO 2 than C4 grasses [35], so may be more affected (but see [36]). Further work to determine the effects of eCO 2 on Si accumulation, particularly considering the C3/C4 pathway, is warranted [37]. Moreover, the declines in Si accumulation could have implications for the global Si cycle, its links to global primary productivity, and the C cycle [38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting effects of Miocene and Anthropocene levels of atmospheric CO₂on silicon accumulation in a model grass

et al. 2020

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Grasses are hyper-accumulators of silicon (Si), which they acquire from the soil and deposit in tissues to resist environmental stresses. Given the high metabolic costs of herbivore defensive chemicals and structural constituents (e.g. cellulose), grasses may substitute Si for these components when carbon is limited. Indeed, high Si uptake grasses evolved in the Miocene when atmospheric CO 2 concentration was much lower than present levels. It is, however, unknown how pre-industrial CO 2 concentrations affect Si accumulation in grasses. Using Brachypodium distachyon , we hydroponically manipulated Si-supply (0.0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mM) and grew plants under Miocene (200 ppm) and Anthropocene levels of CO 2 comprising ambient (410 ppm) and elevated (640 ppm) CO 2 concentrations. We showed that regardless of Si treatments, the Miocene CO 2 levels increased foliar Si concentrations by 47% and 56% relative to plants grown under ambient and elevated CO 2 , respectively. This is owing to higher accumulation overall, but also the reallocation of Si from the roots into the shoots. Our results suggest that grasses may accumulate high Si concentrations in foliage when carbon is less available (i.e. pre-industrial CO 2 levels) but this is likely to decline under future climate change scenarios, potentially leaving grasses more susceptible to environmental stresses.

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High silicon concentrations in grasses are linked to environmental conditions and not associated with C₄ photosynthesis

Cited by 17 publications

References 147 publications

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Anti‐herbivore silicon defences in a model grass are greatest under Miocene levels of atmospheric CO₂

Contrasting effects of Miocene and Anthropocene levels of atmospheric CO₂on silicon accumulation in a model grass

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High silicon concentrations in grasses are linked to environmental conditions and not associated with C4 photosynthesis

Cited by 17 publications

References 147 publications

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

Anti‐herbivore silicon defences in a model grass are greatest under Miocene levels of atmospheric CO2

Contrasting effects of Miocene and Anthropocene levels of atmospheric CO2on silicon accumulation in a model grass

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High silicon concentrations in grasses are linked to environmental conditions and not associated with C₄ photosynthesis

Anti‐herbivore silicon defences in a model grass are greatest under Miocene levels of atmospheric CO₂

Contrasting effects of Miocene and Anthropocene levels of atmospheric CO₂on silicon accumulation in a model grass