Benefits of Silicon in the Nutrition of Plants

Description

This book aims to describe the role of silicon in the environment from the biogeochemical cycle of terrestrial ecosystems, uptake to cellular and tissue bioaccumulation and its effects in mitigating abiotic and biotic stresses. From an agronomic point of view, this knowledge is essential to boost agricultural production and improve its quality and the sustainability of crops in the face of the growing pressure of different stresses on crop systems of different natures. Si is the only multi-stress mitigator in plant nutrition. It plays an important role in mitigating nutritional deficiency by increasing nutrient use efficiency, something that will be very important in the future: producing more with less nutrient accumulated in the plant. The book focuses on the effects of Si on plant mineral nutrition, exploring nutritional deficiencies and toxicity of Al and potentially toxic heavy metals such as Cd, as well as important stresses such as salinity, water deficit and high temperature. The book will also discuss the Si extractors in the soil and criteria for recommending Si in crops and the sources of the element for its application in soil and leaves, as well as the role of Si in the activity of microorganisms and in plant diseases and pests. São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)(2022/10092-9). Foreword Acknowledgment Contents Chapter 1: Silicon Biogeochemistry in Terrestrial Ecosystems 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Silicon Chemistry in Soils 1.3 Silicon Cycling in Natural and Agricultural Plant-Soil Systems 1.3.1 Si Bioavailability 1.3.2 Si Cycling in Natural Plant-Soil Systems 1.3.3 Si Cycling in Agricultural Plant-Soil Systems 1.4 Silicon Mitigating Drought 1.5 Si Controlling Nutrient Availability and Carbon Turnover 1.6 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 2: Silicon: Transcellular and Apoplastic Absorption and Transport in the Xylem 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Active Uptake of Si 2.3 Passive Uptake of Si 2.4 Rejection Uptake of Si 2.5 Si Transport in the Xylem References Chapter 3: Root Silicification and Plant Resistance to Stress 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Sites of Si Deposition in Roots 3.3 Silicon Transport in Plants – From Chemistry to Cell Biology and Anatomy 3.4 Silicification in the Root Cell Walls 3.4.1 Cellulose and Polysaccharides 3.4.2 Lignin 3.4.3 Callose 3.4.4 Proteins 3.5 Phytoliths 3.6 Stegmata 3.7 The Function of Silica Deposits in Roots References Chapter 4: Dynamics of Silicon in Soil and Plant to Establish Silicate Fertilization 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Silicon in Soils 4.3 Components of Silicon Cycle in Soil 4.4 Silicon in Plants 4.5 Bases of Silicon Fertilization 4.6 Silicon Application Rates 4.7 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Innovative Sources and Ways of Applying Silicon to Plants 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Sources and Ways of Supplying Si to Tropical Crops 5.2.1 Silicon Sources for Soil Application or Fertigation in Tropical Regions 5.2.2 Silicon Sources for Foliar Application in Tropical Regions 5.3 Final Considerations References Chapter 6: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Nitrogen Deficiency in Plants 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Biochemical and Physiological Effects of N Deficiency in Plants 6.3 Beneficial Effect of Si on Plants Under Nutrient Deficiency Stress 6.4 Beneficial Action of Si in Tropical Plants Under N Deficiency: How Can Si Mitigate the Effects of N Deficiency? 6.5 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 7: Silicon Alleviating Potassium and Phosphorus Deficiency in Plants 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Silicon in the Plant 7.3 The Role of Silicon in Potassium-Deficient Plants 7.4 The Role of Silicon in Phosphorus-Deficient Plants References Chapter 8: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur in Plants 8.1 The Relationship Calcium and Silicon 8.1.1 General Aspects 8.1.2 Sources of Calcium and Silicon 8.1.3 Physiological and Biochemical Benefits of Silicon in Mitigating Nutritional Calcium Deficiency 8.1.4 Calcium and Silicon Essential for Human Health 8.2 The Relationship Between Magnesium and Silicon 8.3 The Relationship Between Sulfur and Silicon 8.4 Conclusions and Future Perspectives References Chapter 9: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Zinc and Manganese Deficiency in Plants 9.1 Zinc Deficiency in Tropical Plants 9.2 Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Zinc Deficiency in Tropical Plants 9.2.1 Silicon Influences Zinc Uptake and Accumulation 9.2.2 Silicon Acts on Oxidative Metabolism and Reduces Zinc Deficiency Symptoms 9.2.3 Silicon Improves Physiological Responses and Increases Production in Zn-Deficient Plants 9.3 Manganese Deficiency in Tropical Plants 9.4 Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Manganese Deficiency in Tropical Plants 9.4.1 Silicon Influences Manganese Uptake and Accumulation 9.4.2 Silicon Acts on Oxidative Metabolism and Reduces Manganese Deficiency Symptoms 9.4.3 Silicon Improves Physiological Responses and Increases Production in Mn-Deficient Plants References Chapter 10: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Boron Deficiency and Toxicity in Plants 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Boron and Silicon Interaction in the Development of Tropical Crops 10.2.1 Effect on Soil Solution and Root System Development 10.2.2 Effect on Shoot Growth and Biomass Production 10.2.3 Effect on the Development of Reproductive Organs 10.3 Final Considerations References Chapter 11: Effect of Silicon in Mitigating Iron Deficiency 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Iron Uptake and the Benefits of Si 11.3 Iron Redistribution and the Benefits of Si 11.4 Effect of Si on Oxidative Stress in Fe-Deficient Plants 11.5 Final Considerations and Future Perspectives References Chapter 12: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Aluminium Toxicity 12.1 Introduction 12.2 A Historical Perspective 12.3 A Brief Consideration of Silicon and Aluminium in Soils 12.4 Silicon and Aluminium Uptake and Accumulation by Plants 12.4.1 Silicon Uptake and Accumulation 12.4.2 Aluminium Uptake and Accumulation 12.4.3 The Interaction Between Silicon and Aluminium Uptake and Accumulation 12.5 The Amelioration of Aluminium Toxicity by Silicon in Experiments Carried Out in Hydroponic Cultures 12.5.1 Plant Growth 12.5.2 Effects on Mineral Nutrition 12.5.3 Effects on Oxidative Damage 12.6 Co-deposition of Silicon and Aluminium 12.6.1 Co-deposition in Roots 12.6.2 Co-deposition in Conifer Needles 12.6.3 Co-deposition in the Leaves of Dicot Trees 12.6.4 Co-deposition in Other Systems 12.7 Possible Mechanisms for the Mitigation Effect 12.7.1 Solution Effects 12.7.2 Mitigation in Root Systems 12.7.3 Mitigation in Shoot Systems 12.7.4 Mitigation in Tissue Culture Systems 12.8 Mitigation in Plants Grown in Soil 12.9 Conclusion References Chapter 13: Structural Role of Silicon-Mediated Cell Wall Stability for Ammonium Toxicity Alleviation 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Metabolic Targets and Structural Vulnerability in Root Cell Membranes and Cell Walls in Response to Ammonium Toxicity 13.2.1 High Ammonium Uptake Increases AMT-Dependent Apoplastic Acidification 13.2.2 Translocation of Ammonium from the Root Increases Ammonium Assimilation and Acidification in the Shoot 13.2.3 Ammonium Nutrition Decreases Protein N-Glycosylation-Dependent Ammonium Efflux and Arrests Root Elongation 13.2.4 Internal Ammonium Accumulation Initiates ROS-Dependent Cell Wall Lignification and Limits Cell Growth 13.3 Repairing Role of Si in Plant Cell Structural Components Resulting from Ammonium Nutrition 13.3.1 Silicon Decreases Oxidative Stress Caused by Excess Ammonium 13.3.2 Structural Role of Si in Cell Wall Stability Aiming at Ammonium Toxicity Alleviation 13.3.3 Silicon Supply Mitigates Ammonium Toxicity Symptoms Related to Plant Growth and Development 13.4 Conclusions and Future Perspective References Chapter 14: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Potentially Toxic Metals 14.1 Introduction 14.2 HM Stress Mitigation Mechanisms 14.3 Effects of Silicon on Absorption, Transport, and Accumulation of HM 14.4 Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms 14.5 Morphological Alterations 14.6 Altering Gene Expression 14.7 Conclusions References Chapter 15: Beneficial Role of Silicon in Plant Nutrition Under Salinity Conditions 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Silicon and Salt Stress Remediation 15.3 Role of Si in Decreasing Na+ Uptake, Transport, and Accumulation 15.4 Increasing Mineral Uptake by Si Under Salt Stress 15.5 Special Role of Si in Increasing Plant Growth, Biomass, and Yield Under Salt Stress 15.6 Conclusions References Chapter 16: Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Water Deficit in Tropical Plants 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Damage to Tropical Plants Caused by Water Deficit 16.3 Plant Defense System Against Damage Caused by Water Deficit 16.4 Silicon for Mitigating Damage to Tropical Plants Caused by Water Deficit 16.5 Fertigation and Leaf Spraying with Silicon 16.6 Conclusion References Chapter 17: Association of Silicon and Soil Microorganisms Induces Stress Mitigation, Increasing Plant Productivity 17.1 Introduction 17.2 The Impact of Si and Plant Microbiome on Plants 17.3 Role Played by Rhizobacteria and Si in Plants During Environmental Stress 17.4 Role Played by Plant Hormones with the Application of Plant Microbes and Silicon 17.5 Crop Rotation and Fertilizer Use 17.6 Concluding Remarks, Limitations and Future Research References Chapter 18: Heat Stress Mitigation by Silicon Nutrition in Plants: A Comprehensive Overview 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Heat Stress Impact on Plants 18.3 Versatile Functions of Silicon in Mitigating Stress 18.4 Silicon in ROS Homeostasis 18.5 Si-Mediated Regulation of Heat Stress Tolerance in Plants 18.5.1 Rice 18.5.2 Wheat 18.5.3 Barley 18.5.4 Date Palm 18.5.5 Tomatoes 18.5.6 Strawberry 18.5.7 Cucumber 18.5.8 Poinsettia 18.5.9 Salvia 18.6 Conclusions References Chapter 19: Silicon in Plants Mitigates Damage Against Pathogens and Insect Pests 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Mechanisms of Silicon Against Insect Pests and Pathogens 19.2.1 Formation of Physical Barrier 19.2.2 Biochemical Mechanisms 19.2.3 Biochemical Mechanism and Physical Barrier: A Joint Action 19.3 In Vivo and In Vitro Application of Silicon for Disease and Insect Pest Management 19.3.1 Role of Silicon in Viral Disease Management 19.3.2 Role of Silicon in Bacterial Disease Management 19.3.3 Role of Silicon in Fungal Disease Management 19.3.4 Role of Silicon in Insect Pest Management 19.4 Concluding Remarks References