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Effects, distribution and uptake of silicon in banana (Musa spp.) under controlled conditions

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Abstract

Three contrasted genotypes of Musa spp. (M. acuminata cv Grande Naine, M. acuminata spp. Banksii and M. balbisiana spp. Tani) were grown for 6 weeks under optimal conditions in hydroponics and were submitted to a wide range of Si supply (0–1.66 mM Si) to quantify the Si uptake and distribution in banana, as well as the effect of Si on banana growth. The level of Si supply did not affect plant growth, nor the rate of water and nutrient uptake. The rate of Si uptake and the Si concentration in plant tissues increased markedly with the Si supply. At the highest Si concentrations (1.66 mM), silicon absorption was essentially driven by mass flow of water (passive transport). However, at lower Si concentrations (0.02–0.83 mM), it was higher than its uptake by mass flow and caused the depletion of silicon in the nutrient solution, suggesting the existence of active processes in silicon transport. The distribution of silicon among shoot organs (pseudostem < petiole and midrib < young lamina <  old leaf) confirmed the major role of transpiration in silicon accumulation and was not dependent on silicon supply. However, other mechanisms of transport might be operating in the roots and in the petiole and midrib of young leaves, whose silicon concentration was unexpectedly high at low Si supply (0.02 mM) compared to higher levels of Si. The three genotypes did not exhibit consistent differences in their responses to silicon supply.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mrs Anne Iserentant, Mrs Claudine Givron and Mr Patrick Populaire for their strong analytical and technical support, Prof. P. Bertin for fruitful discussion and two anonymous referees for their constructive remarks. C.H. is supported by the “Fonds pour la formation à la Recherche dans l’Industrie et dans l’Agriculture” (FRIA) of Belgium, and X.D. is a Research Associate of the “Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique” (FNRS) of Belgium. This work was supported by the FNRS research convention No. 2.4629.05 and by the “Fonds Spécial de Recherche” 2005 of the “Université catholique de Louvain.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science Unit, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2/10, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    C. Henriet, I. Oppitz & B. Delvaux

  2. Crop Physiology and Plant Breeding, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2/11, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    X. Draye

  3. Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium

    R. Swennen

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  1. C. Henriet
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  4. R. Swennen
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  5. B. Delvaux
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Henriet, C., Draye, X., Oppitz, I. et al. Effects, distribution and uptake of silicon in banana (Musa spp.) under controlled conditions. Plant Soil 287, 359–374 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9085-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9085-4

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