RETRACTED: Foliar Application of Ortho Silicic Acid (Silixol) Elicits Distinctive Physio- biochemical Responses in Sugarcane Under Water Deficit Stress

Abstract

Purpose: Sugarcane is a crop of global significance for sugar production and bioenergy. It is a long duration (12-18 months) crop; thus, the productivity is vulnerable to a range of environmental factors. Drought is emerging as one of the major stresses experienced by all crops which impact physiological and biochemical processes. Methods: This research investigates the impact of foliar application of Silixol OSA (a commercial product having stabilized Ortho Silicic Acid 2.0%) on sugarcane physiology under well-watered and water-stressed conditions, addressing some critical parameters viz. photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and biochemical responses. Results: Under well-watered conditions, silixol (@ 3ml/L), demonstrated improvement in membrane stability index (MSI) while maintained cooler canopy temperature. In water-stressed conditions, silixol significantly increased transpiration rate (59%), net photosynthetic rate (67%), and water use efficiency (WUE) (17%), highlighting its efficacy in mitigating impacts of water scarcity. Chlorophyll fluorescence analyses revealed a 45% increased maintenance in Fv/Fm under water stress. Silixol OSA significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 33.7%, hydrogen peroxide accumulation by 30.7%, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 20%, signifying a substantial mitigation of oxidative stress. The impact on protein content (12.4% reduction) and total sugar content (8.5% reduction) implies a metabolic shift under water stress. Proline content decreased by 53.2% and dry biomass increased by 22.62%, suggesting optimized osmotic regulation and biomass accumulation with silixol treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analyses indicated that the interrelationship among parameters under water deficit conditions, treated with Silixol, underscores the reliability of these parameters. Conclusion: Silixol application emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing sugarcane resilience to water stress, with implications for sustainable agriculture. The study provides valuable insights of changes in sugarcane physiological and biochemical processes following application of Silixol under water deficit stress conditions, thus offers a foundation for further exploration of the development of targeted crop management strategies.