Nanosilicon alters oxidative stress and defence reactions in plants: a meta-analysis, mechanism and perspective

Abstract

Alleviating the adverse effects of abiotic and biotic stress factors on crop plants is essential to achieve higher productivity for satisfying future food demands by the rapidly-growing global human population....

Silicon Nanodots Increase Plant Resistance against Herbivores by Simultaneously Activating Physical and Chemical Defenses

“…Along these lines, the mortality rate of rice weevil ( Sitophilus oryzae ) adults on rice plants treated with 1 g/kg hydrophilic nanosilica for 24 h was 9.5-fold higher than that with bulk silica . Therefore, in accordance with our hypothesis, Si NDs are better than bulk silica application for increasing plant resistance and growth (as shown above), but such effects are dose-dependent . The mechanisms related to these patterns are detailed below.…”

“…It has been shown that both bulk-Si and nano-Si could act as an exogenous stimulant of plants, which could induce a faster increase in JA especially under herbivore stress conditions. , However, our results suggest that soil application of Si NDs could promote the maize leaf to synthesize more phytohormones in response to herbivory than silicate addition. We can speculate that this effect might be related to the fact that Si ND treatment increased more soil silicic acids and leaf Si accumulation than silicate addition (Figure S3, Figure A), in turn promoting the effect of nanosilicon on JA production via activating plant defense-related gene expression. , …”

“…17 Therefore, in accordance with our hypothesis, Si NDs are better than bulk silica application for increasing plant resistance and growth (as shown above), but such effects are dose-dependent. 15 The mechanisms related to these patterns are detailed below.…”

“…A recent surge of research in agro-nanotechnology has shown that application of nanoparticles (NPs) in agroecosystems can promote plant growth and yield and enhance plant resistance against herbivores and pathogens. − Among those NPs, silicon (Si)-based NPs have also been shown to not only increase the yield of crops such as wheat by 21.15% but also promote plant resistance against both abiotic and biotic stresses . For instance, low concentrations of SiO 2 NPs efficiently induced systemic acquired resistance via activation of the salicylic acid (SA)-dependent defense pathway in Arabidopsis plants against Pseudomonas syringae .…”

“…, flavonoids) to scavenge ROS to maintain normal plant growth . Interestingly, a recent meta-analysis has shown that root exposure of nanosilicon overall had a more pronounced effect on the expression of oxidative stress defense-related genes in plants than leaf exposure under abiotic and biotic stress conditions . Therefore, it can be hypothesized that soil-applied Si NDs can enhance maize resistance against herbivory by activating genes involved in both the increased production of BXs and antioxidant enzymes.…”