Vegetos

Abstract

Agricultural productivity is strongly affected by various environmental stress including abiotic (e.g. salt stress, metal toxicity, drought stress, radiation damage, nutrient imbalance, high temperature, freezing and so on) and biotic (various pests and diseases caused by both fungi and bacteria in different plant species). Environmental stress results in loss in yields so there is an emerging need for finding an effective method for the alleviation of these stress factors. Earlier research work has shown that silicon can be used as an alternative method in increasing plant resistance to noxious environmental factors. Hence silicon is recognized as a beneficial element for plants growing under abiotic and biotic stresses. The various work done shows possible involvement of silicon in reducing the reactive oxygen species generation, intensity of lipid peroxidation, and in some cases, increasing the activity of enzymes of the reactive oxygen species detoxificators: superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase. In this review, research on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying Si-induced alleviation of environmental stresses and conferring resistance to plants are discussed.