Silicon mediates ion uptake, transport and homeostasis in plants under mineral stress

Abstract

Silicon is the only known mineral element that effectively alleviates multiple environmental stress in many plant species. Over the past decade rapid progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms through which Si mediates mineral excess and/or toxicity stress. It has been demonstrated that Si mediates uptake and transport of mineral elements at excess by regulating expression of various transporter genes (e.g. Kim et al., 2014; Akcay and Erkan, 2016; Che et al., 2016); however, the role of Si in nutrient uptake and transport under nutrient deficiency conditions is still insufficiently understood. In this presentation, I will talk about Si influence on (a) root P- starvation responses for rhizosphere mobilization and uptake of Pi in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and (b) acquisition and long-distance transport of Fe in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under low Fe conditions; our recent unpublished work on (c) Si-regulated expression of the transporters involved in Na homeostasis in maize (Zea mays) subjected to NaCl stress will also be discussed.