Silicon Increases Leaf Chlorophyll Content and Iron Nutritional Efficiency and Reduces Iron Deficiency in Sorghum Plants

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) on iron (Fe) deficiency in sorghum plants grown in a nutrient solution, seeing that sorghum crops are sensitive to iron deficiency and Si may alleviate this deficiency. Nonetheless, the nutritional mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated in this plant species. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme and completely randomized block design, in the absence or presence of Si (2 mmol L −1) and under Fe deficiency or sufficiency, with five repetitions. The sources of Si and Fe were stabilized sorbitol sodium and potassium silicate (Si = 113.4 g L −1) and Fe-EDDHA chelate (Fe = 6%), respectively. The plants were cultured in pots filled with washed sand, and Si was supplied via nutrient solution at a concentration of 2 mmol L −1. The concentrations of Fe used in this study were 368 μmol L −1 for sufficiency conditions and 55.2 μmol L −1 for deficiency conditions. Our results showed that Si has a beneficial effect on sorghum plants under Fe deficiency by increasing the chlorophyll content and decreasing concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, the application of Si increased the efficiency of translocation and utilization of Fe in plants under this micronutrient deficiency. In conclusion, Si reduced Fe deficiency in sorghum plants by increasing the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, reducing lipid peroxidation, improving the efficiency of Fe translocation and utilization, and resulting in a greater dry weight accumulation.

Enhancement of Lodging Resistance and Lignin Content by Application of Organic Carbon and Silicon Fertilization in Brassica napus L.

“…The photosynthetic rate of leaves treated with silicon fertilizer was significantly higher than that treated with organic carbon fertilizer, which also reflected this ( Figure 2 ). It was reported that silicon increases leaf chlorophyll content, expands chloroplast, and upregulated genes related to light-harvesting complex II, which increases the photosynthetic rate ( Teixeira et al, 2020 ). This means that light energy is a critical environmental component impacting the metabolism, synthesis, and transport of photosynthetic products in crops.…”

Interactions of Silicon With Essential and Beneficial Elements in Plants

“…The alleviating effect of Si on Fe deficiency has been shown in both Strategy 1 (dicots and non-graminaceous monocots with reduction-based Fe uptake; Gonzalo et al, 2013 ; Pavlovic et al, 2013 ; Bityutskii et al, 2014 ) and Strategy 2 (graminaceous monocots that exhibit chelation-based Fe uptake; Nikolic et al, 2019 ; Teixeira et al, 2020 ) plant species. Moreover, the Si-ameliorative effect on Fe deficiency was found to be species-specific and pH-dependent ( Gonzalo et al, 2013 ; Bityutskii et al, 2018 ).…”

Agronomic bio-fortification of iron, zinc and selenium enhance growth, quality and uptake of different sorghum accessions

“…However, among the treatments, Se recorded the maximum plant height, and stem diameter may be due to timely availability and efficient utilisation of Se and other nutrients (Witold et al 2008) that improved the catalytic action in plant and also resulted in early plant maturity. In addition, foliar application of Se alleviates the micronutrients deficiency in sorghum plants and favours biomass production , Teixeira et al 2020. Plant height and stem diameter of other plants was also enhanced by the application of trace elements in sandy soil with low fertility (Zeidan et al 2010, Khalid et al 2019.…”