Silicon In the Growth of Rice Seedlings Pretreated with Dietholate and Subjected to Cold Stress

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is an enzyme stimulator that can promote signaling for the production of antioxidant compounds, important in cellular detoxification of excess ROS accumulated during stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Si on post-germination rice seeds in the mitigation of cold stress combined with stress induced by seed treatment with the dietholate protector. The experimental design was fully randomized with three replicates and a 3x2x2x4x2 factorial arrangement: three temperatures (5, 10 and 20 °C), two cultivars (IRGA 424 RI and Guri INTA CL), two seed pretreatments (with and without dietholate), four rates of Si (0; 4.0; 8.0 and 16 mg.L-1) and two sources of Si (sodium and potassium metasilicate). Seed pretreatment with dietholate reduced shoot and radicle length, especially at the lower temperatures of 5 and 10 °C. Sodium metasilicate as the source of Si was more efficient in boosting shoot and radicle length, both with and without pretreatment, regardless of temperature. Si was found to attenuate low-temperature stress and the impairment of shoot and radicle growth in rice seedlings grown from seeds pretreated with dietholate.