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 (2.5 mM) added to hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants under Ni (100 μM) stress. Ni decreased most of the growth parameters, total chlorophyll (Chl) and leaf relative water content (RWC), and catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) activity, while leaf water loss (LWL), contents of proline (Pro), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ascorbate (AsA), membrane lipid peroxidation and activities of peroxidase (POX; EC 1.11.1.7) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) were increased. Supplementation of Si to Ni-treated plants enhanced the leaf area, Chl content, RWC, CAT and POX (only in younger leaf) activities and decreased LWL, the contents of Pro (in younger leaf), H₂O₂ (roots) and AsA, lipid peroxidation and POX and SOD activities. We may conclude that Si mitigated the Ni-induced stress in maize by amelioration of the leaf water deficient status (Pro, RWC, LWL), enhancing membrane stability (MDA) and influencing enzymatic (SOD, POX, CAT) and non-enzymatic (Pro, AsA) defence systems. The increased Chl content and leaf area improve overall plant performance.