Physiological and Molecular Analysis Revealed the Role of Silicon in Modulating Salinity Stress in Mung Bean

Abstract

Salinity stress acts as a significant deterrent in the course of optimal plant growth and productivity, and mung bean, being a relay crop in the cereal cropping system, is severely affected by salinity. Silicon (Si), on the other hand, has exhibited promising outcomes with regards to alleviating salinity stress. In order to understand the critical mechanisms underlying mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) tolerance towards salt stress, this study examined the effects of different salinity concentrations on antioxidant capacity, proteome level alterations, and influence on Si-transporter and salt-responsive genes. Salinity stress was seen to effect the gaseous exchange machinery, decrease the soluble protein and phenolic content and NR activity, and increase the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. An efficient regulation of stomatal opening upon Si application hints towards proficient stomatal conductance and CO2 fixation, resulting in efficient photosynthesis leading to proficient plant growth. The soluble protein and phenolic content showed improved levels upon Si supplementation, which indicates an optimal solute transport system from source to sink. The content of superoxide radicals showed a surge under salinity stress treatment, but efficient scavenging of superoxide radicles was noted under Si supplementation. Salinity stress exhibited more damaging effects on root NR activity, which was notably enhanced upon Si supplementation. Moreover, the beneficial role of Si was further substantiated as there was notable Si accumulation in the leaves and roots of salinity-stressed mung bean plants. Furthermore, Si stimulated competent ROS scavenging by reinforcing the antioxidant enzyme activity, as well coordinating with their isozyme activity, as expressed by the varying band intensities. Similarly, the Si-mediated increase in peroxidase activity may reveal changes in the mechanical characteristics of the cell wall, which are in turn associated with salinity stress adaptation. Proteomic investigations revealed the upregulation or downregulation of several proteins, which were thereafter identified by LC−MS/MS. About 45 proteins were identified and were functionally classified into photosynthesis (24%), metabolic process (19%), redox homeostasis (12%), transmembrane transport (10%), stress response (7%), and transcription regulation (4%). The gene expression analysis of the silicon transporter genes (Lsi1, Lsi2, and Lsi3) and SOS pathway genes (SOS1, SOS2, and SOS3) indicated the role of silicon in mitigating salinity stress. Hence, the findings of this study can facilitate a profound understanding of the potential mechanisms adopted by mung bean due to exogenous Si application during salinity stress.

Systematic assessment of salt tolerance based on morpho-physiological traits and genes related in inbred rice lines at the seedling stage

“…Mung bean tolerance to salinity is related to physiological processes in the plant. Previous studies revealed that the level of tolerance of mung bean to salinity is related to membrane permeability and cell osmotic pressure (Nawaz et al 2021;Al Murad et al 2023), its ability to accumulate K (Hao et al 2021;Joshi et al 2022), its ability to inhibit Na translocation from root to shoot (Hu et al 2022), its ability to accumulate water in leaves, proline and glycine betaine, and inhibit chlorophyll degradation (Shafi et al 2019;Sofy et al 2020;). Tolerance in mung beans is also related to enzymatic reactions in the cell.…”

“…Tolerance in mung beans is also related to enzymatic reactions in the cell. Increasing salt concentration from 50 to 200 mM NaCl increased catalase activity 2.4 times and peroxidase 2.8 times (antioxidative enzymes) (Al Murad et al 2023).…”

Insight into the Biostimulant Effect of an Aqueous Duckweed Extract on Tomato Plants

“…TFC was determined spectrometrically, according to Atanassova et al [26], and was expressed as mg of catechin equivalents (CE) g −1 . Soluble carbohydrates were evaluated using the anthrone method, according to Al Murad and Muneer [27]. The supernatant (50 µL) from the methanolic extract was transferred to the solution with 950 µL of distilled water, and 2.5 mL of 0.2% anthrone reagent was added.…”

Chitosan Regulates the Root Architecture System, Photosynthetic Characteristics and Antioxidant System Contributing to Salt Tolerance in Maize Seedling

“…With the increasing degradation of arable land and the escalating frequency of extreme weather events, it has become imperative to comprehend and mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress on crops [9]. In recent years, diverse strategies have been explored to mitigate the deleterious impact of salt stress on plants, including plant growth regulators [10,11], plant hormones [12][13][14], nanoparticles [15][16][17], nutrient elements [18,19], and aqueous extracts [20].…”