1
|
Naz R, Zaman QU, Nazir S, Komal N, Chen Y, Ashraf K, Al-Huqail AA, Alfagham A, Siddiqui MH, Ali HM, Khan F, Sultan K, Khosa Q. Silicon fertilization counteracts salinity-induced damages associated with changes in physio-biochemical modulations in spinach. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267939. [PMID: 35679266 PMCID: PMC9182609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant growth and productivity are limited by the severe impact of salt stress on the fundamental physiological processes. Silicon (Si) supplementation is one of the promising techniques to improve the resilience of plants under salt stress. This study deals with the response of exogenous Si applications (0, 2, 4, and 6 mM) on growth, gaseous exchange, ion homeostasis and antioxidant enzyme activities in spinach grown under saline conditions (150 mM NaCl). Salinity stress markedly reduced the growth, physiological, biochemical, water availability, photosynthesis, enzymatic antioxidants, and ionic status in spinach leaves. Salt stress significantly enhanced leaf Na+ contents in spinach plants. Supplementary foliar application of Si (4 mM) alleviated salt toxicity, by modulating the physiological and photosynthetic attributes and decreasing electrolyte leakage, and activities of SOD, POD and CAT. Moreover, Si-induced mitigation of salt stress was due to the depreciation in Na+/K+ ratio, Na+ ion uptake at the surface of spinach roots, and translocation in plant tissues, thereby reducing the Na+ ion accumulation. Foliar applied Si (4 mM) ameliorates ionic toxicity by decreasing Na+ uptake. Overall, the results illustrate that foliar applied Si induced resistance against salinity stress in spinach by regulating the physiology, antioxidant metabolism, and ionic homeostasis. We advocate that exogenous Si supplementation is a practical approach that will allow spinach plants to recover from salt toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riffat Naz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Qamar uz Zaman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saba Nazir
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nayab Komal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Yinglong Chen
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, and School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Kamran Ashraf
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Government College University, Faisalabad Sahiwal Campus, Sahiwal, Pakistan
| | - Asma A. Al-Huqail
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alanoud Alfagham
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manzer H. Siddiqui
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail:
| | - Hayssam M. Ali
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faheema Khan
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khawar Sultan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Quratulain Khosa
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|