Effect of silicon on protein and lignin contents of two annual flower species

Abstract

The beneficial effect of silicon on plants is known, but there are no studies demonstrating the effect of this element on protein and lignin production in ornamental plants. This study aimed to assess the effects of monosilicic acid fertigation at 0, 2, 4, and 8 mmol L-1 of Si on protein and lignin production of two ornamental species: Viola x wittrockiana Gams ex Nauenb. & Buttler ‘Majestic Giants II Fire’ e Tagetes erecta L. ‘Hero’ (color mix). The experiment was installed in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement using a completely randomized design with five replications. After 90 days of the sowing, we assessed N and Si contents in shoot system, Si accumulation in shoot system, root, and total, and lignin and protein production. An increase in lignin followed by its reduction was observed from the concentration of 2.0 (4.29) and 4.3 (5.72) mmol L-1 of Si for Viola and Tagetes species, respectively. Silicon application promoted higher lignin content in T. erecta and V. x wittrockiana.

Silicon and boron on cauliflower induce attractiveness and mortality in Plutella xylostella

“…This is because Si is deposited as an opal below the cuticle, having cross-links with cell wall components 5 and is involved in lignin metabolism. 4 The use of Si in insect control programs with high global economic importance has been documented, such as Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Diatraea saccaralis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), [6][7][8] without reports in cauliflower (Brassic oleracea var.…”

“…Another element that has an effect against damage caused by the attack of insects is silicon (Si), 3 because, similar to B, it has an effect in increasing the rigidity of plant tissues. This is because Si is deposited as an opal below the cuticle, having cross‐links with cell wall components 5 and is involved in lignin metabolism 4 . The use of Si in insect control programs with high global economic importance has been documented, such as Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.…”