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Effects of silicon nutrition on cadmium uptake, growth and photosynthesis of rice plants exposed to low-level cadmium

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Abstract

The effect of silicon (Si) nutrition on low-level cadmium (Cd) toxicity symptoms was investigated in hydroponically-grown rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.). Silicon (0.0, 0.2, or 0.6 mM) was added when seedlings were 6 or 20 days old representing early (SiE) or late (SiL) Si treatment, respectively. Cadmium (0.0 or 2.5 μM) was added when seedlings were 6 days old. Measurements included generation of CO2 and light response curves; chlorophyll fluorescence analysis; growth; and tissue-element content analysis. Our results showed that low-level Cd treatment generally inhibited growth and photosynthesis. However, the addition of 0.2 or 0.6 mM SiE or SiL significantly reduced root- and leaf-Cd content. Consequently, the addition of 0.6 mM SiL significantly alleviated low-level Cd-induced inhibition of growth. Furthermore, 0.2 mM Si treatment significantly reduced g s compared to 0.0 or 0.6 mM Si without inhibiting A, especially in +Cd plants, suggesting an increase in instantaneous water-use-efficiency (IWUE). Additionally, in +Cd plants, the addition of 0.6 mM SiE significantly reduced F o but increased F v/F m, while treatment with 0.2 mM SiL significantly increased qP, suggesting an increase in light-use-efficiency. We thus, propose that 0.6 mM SiL treatment is required for the alleviation of low-level Cd-mediated growth inhibition. Furthermore, we suggest that 0.2 mM Si concentration might be close to the optimum requirement for maximum Si-induced increase in IWUE in rice plants, especially when under low-level Cd-stress. Our results also suggest that Si alleviates low-level Cd toxicity by improving light-use-efficiency.

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Abbreviations

A :

net CO2 assimilation rate

A max :

maximum net CO2 assimilation rate

C a :

ambient CO2 concentration

C E :

carboxylation efficiency

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

E :

transpiration rate

F m :

maximum chlorophyll fluorescence yield in a dark-adapted state

F o :

minimum chlorophyll fluorescence yield in a dark-adapted state

Fo/Fm:

basal quantum yield of non-photochemical processes in PS2 in a dark-adapted state

F v :

maximum variable fluorescence yield in a dark-adapted state

Fv/Fm:

quantum efficiency of open PS2 centers in a dark-adapted state

g s :

stomatal conductance rate

g smax :

maximum stomatal conductance rate

I s :

photosynthetic light-saturation point

IWUE:

instantaneous water-use-efficiency

PS:

photosystem

qN :

non-photochemical quenching coefficient in a light-adapted state

qP :

photochemical quenching coefficient in a light-adapted state

RUBISCO:

ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

SiE :

Si was added (early) when plants were 6 days old

SiL :

Si was added (late) when plants were 20 days old

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by funds from the Academic Challenge Award Program of the Botany Department at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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  1. Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Chika C. Nwugo & Alfredo J. Huerta

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  1. Chika C. Nwugo
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  2. Alfredo J. Huerta
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Correspondence to Chika C. Nwugo.

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Nwugo, C.C., Huerta, A.J. Effects of silicon nutrition on cadmium uptake, growth and photosynthesis of rice plants exposed to low-level cadmium. Plant Soil 311, 73–86 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9659-4

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