Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions
Abstract Purpose This study explored how exogenous silicon (Si) affects growth and salt resistance in maize. Methods The maize was cultivated in sand-filled pots, incorporating varied silicon and salt stress (NaCl) treatments. Silicon was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mM, and salt stress was induced...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-06013-4 |
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| author | Muhammad Saad Ullah Athar Mahmood Hussam F. Najeeb Alawadi Mahmoud F. Seleiman Bilal Ahmad Khan Muhammad Mansoor Javaid Abdul Wahid Fnu Abdullah Daniel O. Wasonga |
| author_facet | Muhammad Saad Ullah Athar Mahmood Hussam F. Najeeb Alawadi Mahmoud F. Seleiman Bilal Ahmad Khan Muhammad Mansoor Javaid Abdul Wahid Fnu Abdullah Daniel O. Wasonga |
| author_sort | Muhammad Saad Ullah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose This study explored how exogenous silicon (Si) affects growth and salt resistance in maize. Methods The maize was cultivated in sand-filled pots, incorporating varied silicon and salt stress (NaCl) treatments. Silicon was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mM, and salt stress was induced using 0, 60 and120 mM concentrations. Soil salinity triggers a range of physiochemical abnormalities, often leading to growth arrest and, eventually, the demise of susceptible plants. Results The salt stress significantly reduced the total chlorophyll content (12.58–33.14%), antioxidant enzymes, notably SOD (32–46%), POD (10.33–18.48%), and CAT (10.05–13.19%). In contrast, salt stress increased secondary metabolites, including total phenols (49.11–66.35%.), flavonoids (220.99–280.36%), and anthocyanin (50.04–58.6%). Adding silicon under salt stress reduced the absorption of Na+ by 6.69%, 20.7%, 41.12%, and 34.28%, respectively, compared to their respective controls. Additionally, applying Si at 8 mM significantly enhanced antioxidant enzymes such as SOD (50.57%), POD (15.58%), CAT (10.06%) and chlorophyll ratio (21.32%). Conclusion Silicon application positively impacted nearly all growth and physiological features, indicating it helps mitigate against salinity. This was achieved by regulating various salinity indicators, where secondary metabolites, including anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and flavonoids, increased. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b89e3a08d964cc288c2e541be921c5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b89e3a08d964cc288c2e541be921c5a2025-01-05T12:13:09ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-01-0125111910.1186/s12870-024-06013-4Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditionsMuhammad Saad Ullah0Athar Mahmood1Hussam F. Najeeb Alawadi2Mahmoud F. Seleiman3Bilal Ahmad Khan4Muhammad Mansoor Javaid5Abdul Wahid6Fnu Abdullah7Daniel O. Wasonga8Department of Botany, University of Agriculture FaisalabadDepartment of Agronomy, University of Agriculture FaisalabadCollege of Agriculture, Al-Qadisiyah UniversityDepartment of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of SargodhaDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAbstract Purpose This study explored how exogenous silicon (Si) affects growth and salt resistance in maize. Methods The maize was cultivated in sand-filled pots, incorporating varied silicon and salt stress (NaCl) treatments. Silicon was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mM, and salt stress was induced using 0, 60 and120 mM concentrations. Soil salinity triggers a range of physiochemical abnormalities, often leading to growth arrest and, eventually, the demise of susceptible plants. Results The salt stress significantly reduced the total chlorophyll content (12.58–33.14%), antioxidant enzymes, notably SOD (32–46%), POD (10.33–18.48%), and CAT (10.05–13.19%). In contrast, salt stress increased secondary metabolites, including total phenols (49.11–66.35%.), flavonoids (220.99–280.36%), and anthocyanin (50.04–58.6%). Adding silicon under salt stress reduced the absorption of Na+ by 6.69%, 20.7%, 41.12%, and 34.28%, respectively, compared to their respective controls. Additionally, applying Si at 8 mM significantly enhanced antioxidant enzymes such as SOD (50.57%), POD (15.58%), CAT (10.06%) and chlorophyll ratio (21.32%). Conclusion Silicon application positively impacted nearly all growth and physiological features, indicating it helps mitigate against salinity. This was achieved by regulating various salinity indicators, where secondary metabolites, including anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and flavonoids, increased. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-06013-4SiliconMaizeSalinityGrowth parametersPhysiologySecondary metabolites |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Saad Ullah Athar Mahmood Hussam F. Najeeb Alawadi Mahmoud F. Seleiman Bilal Ahmad Khan Muhammad Mansoor Javaid Abdul Wahid Fnu Abdullah Daniel O. Wasonga Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions BMC Plant Biology Silicon Maize Salinity Growth parameters Physiology Secondary metabolites |
| title | Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| title_full | Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| title_fullStr | Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| title_short | Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| title_sort | silicon mediated modulation of maize growth metabolic responses and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions |
| topic | Silicon Maize Salinity Growth parameters Physiology Secondary metabolites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-06013-4 |
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