Silicon in Agriculture

Abstract

Agricultural production and sustainability are hampered by various abiotic stresses such as salinity, metal toxicity, nutrient imbalance, high temperature and radiation. There are also biotic stress like fungi, bacterial diseases and other pests. Application of silicon enhances the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the physiological, biochemical, molecular and functional mechanisms of silicon activity under various stresses are poorly documented. Here we review silicon transport in plants, the role of silicon in cell culture and tissue culture, silicon-metal interaction, and silicon interaction with diseases. We describe protection from pest incidence in rice, silicon-mediated oxidative stress tolerance, in conferring resistance to multiple stresses and characterization of silicon transporter genes. Silicon is involved in the fortification of plants against oxidation of cell membranes and regulation of osmolytes within cells, leading to the protection of various plant structures and functions under drought conditions.