Do Antimonite and Silicon Share the Same Root Uptake Pathway by Lsi1 in L. Moench?

A study was conducted to further develop our understanding of antimony (Sb) uptake in plants. Unlike other metal(loid)s, such as silicon (Si), the mechanisms of Sb uptake are not well understood. However, SbIII is thought to enter the cell via aquaglyceroporins.

Effect of silicon on the young maize plants exposed to nickel stress.

Nickel (Ni) is involved in several physiological processes in plants but its excess in environment has many phytotoxic effects. Silicon (Si), an element required for optimal plant performance, has been shown to have beneficial effects for plants coping with various types of stresses. Here we studied the alleviative potential of Si (2.

Multiple effects of silicon on alleviation of nickel toxicity in young maize roots.

Although beneficial metalloid silicon (Si) has been shown to alleviate the toxicity of various heavy metals, there is a lack of knowledge about the role of Si in possible alleviation of phytotoxicity caused by excess of essential nickel (Ni). In the present study we investigated the growth and biomass production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and activities of selected antioxidants, as well as combined effect of Ni and Si on the integrity of cell membranes and electrolyte leakage in young maize roots treated for 24, 48 and 72 h with excess of Ni and/or Si. By histochemical methods we also visualized Ni distribution in root tissues and compared the uptake of Ni and Si with the development of root apoplasmic barriers.

Influence of silicon on maize roots exposed to antimony - growth and antioxidative response.

Pollution of antimony (Sb) raises a serious environmental problem. Although this non-essential element can be taken up by roots and accumulated in plant tissues in relatively high concentrations, there is still lack of knowledge about the effect of Sb on biochemical and metabolic processes in plants. It was shown that application of silicon (Si) can decrease the toxicity of other heavy metals and toxic elements in various plants.

Silicon modifies root anatomy, and uptake and subcellular distribution of cadmium in young maize plants.

Background And Aims: Silicon (Si) has been shown to ameliorate the negative influence of cadmium (Cd) on plant growth and development. However, the mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood. Here we describe the effect of Si on growth, and uptake and subcellular distribution of Cd in maize plants in relation to the development of root tissues.

Silicon-induced changes in viscoelastic properties of sorghum root cell walls.

Silicon is deposited in the endodermal tissue in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) roots. Its deposition is thought to protect vascular tissues in the stele against invasion by parasites and drying soil via hardening of endodermal cells.

The dynamics of silicon deposition in the sorghum root endodermis.

•  The dynamics of silica deposition and Si aggregates formation in inner tangential walls of root endodermal cells, which occurs as an additional stage of endodermal development in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), were studied. •  An environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and X-ray microanalyzer (EDAX) were used to study sorghum roots grown hydroponically with Si (+ Si medium) and without Si (- Si medium). •  Silica aggregates were absent in roots of plants cultivated in - Si medium.

Silicification in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars with different drought tolerance.

Sorghum belongs to a group of economically important, silicon accumulating plants. X-ray microanalysis coupled with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) of fresh root endodermal and leaf epidermal samples confirms histological and cultivar specificity of silicification. In sorghum roots, silicon is accumulated mostly in endodermal cells.