Silicon nutrition counteracts salt-induced damage associated with changes in biochemical responses in apple

Abstract

Salt stress is an environmental challenge that adversely influences plant responses. Silicon (Si) nutrition plays critical roles in plant tolerance to salt stress. Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), a salt sensitive fruit species, was used in the present experiment to investigate the influences of Si on salt stress as well as on alterations of biochemical responses. Apple cv Fuji grafted on M9 clonal rootstock was exposed to salt stress for 4 months with 35 mmol•L-1 NaCl. CaSiO 3 doses (0.5, 1 and 2 mmol•L-1) were applied to the roots of the salt-stressed apple plants except control. Si application resulted in mitigation of salt stress in apple plants. The highest chlorophyll a, b and a + b were obtained from the 1 mmol•L-1 Si treatment (5.37, 2.41 and 7.78 µg•g-1 fw, respectively). Moreover, Si treatment had higher chlorophyll content compared to the control as well as salt exposed plants. Silicon applications led to a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content even lower than control. The 0.5 mmol•L-1 Si treatment had the highest values of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and phenolic content. The results show that Si nutrition plays important roles in apple salt tolerance via biochemical mechanisms and that it can be used in areas subject to salt stress for apple growing.

A Global Metabolic Map Defines the Effects of a Si-Based Biostimulant on Tomato Plants under Normal and Saline Conditions

“…In addition, reports have shown that Si treatment results in short-term accumulation of phenolics followed by a subsequent decline, signalling Si formulation-induced mitigation of salt stress effect, and hence stress alleviation [75,103]. In line with our findings, studies have also reported a Si-mitigated decline in the content of phenolics in salt-stressed apples and Jatropha integerrima, respectively [104,105]. In conclusion, application of Si-based formulations on salt-stressed plants confers higher tolerance thereof via accumulation of phenolics which, in turn, activate defence-related proteins, repair and regulate photosynthetic apparatus, scavenge ROS, inhibit ROS-producing enzymes as well as activate antioxidant enzymes.…”

Silicon fertilization counteracts salinity-induced damages associated with changes in physio-biochemical modulations in spinach

“…The severity of salt stress progressively enhanced the EL and the tolerance rate of plants against salt stress [ 74 ]. Exogenously applied Si protects plants from salt induced membrane damage [ 75 ]. Silicon fertilizer also provides strength to the cell membrane of those plants which grow under salt stress [ 75 , 76 ].…”

“…Exogenously applied Si protects plants from salt induced membrane damage [ 75 ]. Silicon fertilizer also provides strength to the cell membrane of those plants which grow under salt stress [ 75 , 76 ]. The addition of Si fertilizer in saline soils shows the reduction in electrolytic leakage hence preventing ion leakage from the plasma membrane and a decrease in lipid peroxidation [ 77 ].…”

Impact of Silicon Application on Physiochemical Traits of Vigna radiata Exposed to Salinity Stress

“…Si may induce internal Fe and Mg transport, leading to the synthesis of chlorophyll. Similarly, as with the chlorophyll content, the Si treatment increased the chlorophyll stability index as reported by (Aras et al, 2020).…”