Silicon Application Modulates Growth, Physio-Chemicals, and Antioxidants in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Exposed to Different Cadmium Regimes

Abstract

Silicon (Si) application enhanced the tolerance of plants against different environmental stresses. Therefore, objective of the study revealed that foliar applied Si alleviates the adverse effect of Cd by enhancing the growth, metabolite accumulation, strengthening the antioxidant defense system, reducing oxidative injury, improving plant nutrient status, and decreasing the Cd uptake in wheat. The surface sterilized seeds of Sahar-2006 (tolerant) and Inqalab-91 (sensitive) having the differential metal tolerance capacity were sown in plastic pots containing normal and Cd spiked sandy loamy soil. The design of experiments was completely randomized with 3 replicates per treatment. Two weeks after germination, plants were sprayed with different concentrations of Si (1.5 and 3 mM) with 0.1% surfactant in the form of Tween-20. The plants were harvested after 2 weeks of Si application to determine various attributes. High concentration of Cd (25 mg kg-1) decreased growth-related-attributes, essential nutrient uptake and increase the levels of oxidative stress indicators. The application of Si increased the growth-related attributes, photosynthetic pigments, essential nutrient uptake and also enhanced the activities of various antioxidant compounds (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) by decreasing the contents of oxidative stress indicators and Cd uptake in root and shoot of both wheat cultivars. Sahar-2006 cultivar showed more tolerance to Cd regimes than that of Inqalab-91 as clear from greater plant dry masses. Thus, our results showed that the applied Si level (3 mM) is an efficient strategy for field use in the areas, where slightly Cd polluted soils limit the agriculture production.

Assessing the Effect of Silicon Supply on Root Sulfur Uptake in S-Fed and S-Deprived Brassica napus L.

“…In contrast to chlorophyll, the leaf anthocyanin content was strongly increased when S-deprived plants were fed with Si compared to -S-Si plants (Figures 1A and 2B). This result agrees with earlier studies reporting that Si treatment leads to an increase in anthocyanin content in several plant species [43][44][45]. This accumulation of anthocyanins under Si treatment could be an advantage in coping with biotic and abiotic stresses due to the anthocyanins' non-enzymatic antioxidant properties, which is particularly important under -S conditions.…”

Iron Oxide and Silicon Nanoparticles Modulate Mineral Nutrient Homeostasis and Metabolism in Cadmium-Stressed Phaseolus vulgaris

“…Nanoparticles reduced MDA levels, while they increased peroxidase (POD) and SOD activity in metal-stressed wheat plants ( Sardar et al, 2022 ). Additionally, osmoregulators control the structure of organelles and macromolecules in plants by adjusting osmosis and aid in the reduction of Cd-induced toxicity in plants ( Thind et al, 2021 ). In the present study, we also noticed that Cd inhibited the production of total soluble proteins and proline concentration in P. vulgaris seedlings.…”

Exogenous Oxalic Acid Protects Germinating Chickpea Seeds Against Cadmium Injury

“…Recently, exogenous application of chemical compounds was adopted to improve plant tolerance to adverse conditions such as HM contamination via stimulating antioxidant systems, reducing metal ions accumulation and modulating signalling pathways (Kharbech et al 2022;Sakouhi et al 2018;Thind et al 2021). Low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA) play a pivotal role in various metabolic processes such as energy production and adaptation to various abiotic stresses (Bali et al 2020).…”