Title : Induction of barley silicon transporters HvLsi1 and HvLsi2 is responsible for silicon accumulation in shoot under concomitant drought and K deficiency.
Abstract:
The important role of potassium (K) in the mitigation of different stress such as drought, heat or frost has been well documented. Recently, researchers have been more focused on silicon (Si) topic and wide-ranging benefits of Si for stressed plants are exploited for agricultural gain. Si has been widely reported to alleviates drought responses and plant nutrient deficiency. Also, few studies have been also shown that Si ameliorated the K-deficient response. Although there is evidence that both K and Si can improve drought tolerance on their own, their combinatorial effect on drought stress tolerance has so far not yet been reported. In order to investigate the role of Si nutrition under concomitant drought and K deficiency, a barley line was submitted to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress under low or high K supply and two Si regimes to investigate the related mechanisms contributing to better drought tolerance. The results showed that the regulation of barley silicon transporters HvLsi1,Hvsi2 and HvLsi6 controlled accumulation of Si in the shoot only when plant suffered of K deficiency. Furthermore, our results indicated that higher Si accumulated in shoot of barley plants contributed to better drought tolerance by maintaining the photosynthetic machinery active and increasing the chlorophyll level.
In GPMB 2017, our results will be emphasized: 1) the new mechanisms by which Si mitigates K deficiency in particular when additional abiotic stress like drought interfere, 2) the importance of applying Si for reaching to sustainable agriculture, 3) scientists will be encouraged to work more on Si topic as an importance nutrition alleviating stress responses.
