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Silicon alleviates simulated acid rain stress of Oryza sativa L. seedlings by adjusting physiology activity and mineral nutrients

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Abstract

Silicon (Si) has been a modulator in plants under abiotic stresses, such as acid rain. To understand how silicon made an effect on rice (Oryza sativa L.) exposed to simulated acid rain (SAR) stress, the growth, physiologic activity, and mineral nutrient content in leaves of rice were investigated. The results showed that combined treatments with Si (1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mM) and SAR (pH 4.0, 3.0, or 2.0) obviously improved the rice growth compared with the single treatment with SAR. Incorporation of Si into SAR treatment decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content; increased soluble protein and proline contents; promoted CAT, POD, SOD, and APX activity; and maintained the K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu content balance in leaves of rice seedlings under SAR stress. The moderate concentration of Si (2.0 mM) was better than the low and high concentration of Si (1.0 and 4.0 mM). Therefore, application of Si could be a better strategy for maintaining the crop productivity in acid rain regions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Spark Plan Project (S2013C100537, 2015GA690089) and The Program of Environmental Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province (No.2007024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining & Technology, No.1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China

    Shuming Ju, Liping Wang, Ningning Yin, Dan Li & Cuiying Zhang

  2. Xuzhou Institute of Technology, Xuzhou, 221111, China

    Shuming Ju, Yukun Wang & Cuiying Zhang

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  1. Shuming Ju
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  2. Liping Wang
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  3. Ningning Yin
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  4. Dan Li
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  5. Yukun Wang
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  6. Cuiying Zhang
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Contributions

Shuming Ju and Liping Wang initiated the project and designed the study. Shuming Ju, Yukun Wang, and Cuiying Zhang performed the research. Shuming Ju, Ningning Yin, and Dan Li wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Liping Wang.

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Ju, S., Wang, L., Yin, N. et al. Silicon alleviates simulated acid rain stress of Oryza sativa L. seedlings by adjusting physiology activity and mineral nutrients. Protoplasma 254, 2071–2081 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1099-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1099-7

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