The Role of Nano-Silica in Reducing the Negative Impact of Different Shocks on Cucumber Plant Growth

Abstract

The current research aims to determine whether salinity in irrigation water, frost, drought, and heat damage to cucumbers may be reduced or avoided by using manufactured nano-silica (NaSiPs) particles. After soaking the seeds for 3 hours in a nano-silica suspension, seedlings with a length of 15 cm in the greenhouse were sprayed with various NaSiPs concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L -1 ). When the plant reached 30 cm in length, the various shock treatments were applied. At harvest, some vegetative parameters were determined as well as chemical analysis of plants (root, leaves , and fruits). The results confirmed that NaSiPs were effective in reducing the negative effects of various shocks on plant biometrics, chlorophyll, and fruit yield. The findings revealed that there were no significant effects of the two-way interaction between shock treatments and nanosilica rates on the plant biometrics, chlorophyll, and fruit yield. The concentrations of sodium and potassium in roots, leaves, and fruits, as well as silicon and proline in roots and leaves, were found to have the same effects. Except for Na and K in fruits and leaves, all parameters studied increased with increasing nano-silica rates, with the exception of fruit sodium and leaf potassium concentration. The shocks had the following order: control > salinity > frost > dryness > heat. SiNP400 treatment of plants reduced the negative effects of various shocks.