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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Tools for Surface Treatment of Silicon Planar Intracortical Microelectrodes

Tools for Surface Treatment of Silicon Planar Intracortical Microelectrodes

Published on: June 8, 2022

Silicon mobilisation by root-released carboxylates.

Félix de Tombeur¹, Jean-Thomas Cornelis², Hans Lambers³

¹TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium.

Trends in Plant Science

|July 28, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Plant root carboxylates enhance silicon (Si) uptake by mobilizing soil minerals, especially in phosphorus-depleted soils. This strategy aids plant Si accumulation by leveraging existing nutrient acquisition processes.

Keywords:

manganese mycorrhiza nutrient-acquisition strategies phosphorus limitation rhizosphere processes root exudates

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Soil Science
Biogeochemistry

Background:

Plants utilize root exudates like carboxylates to access scarce soil nutrients.
Silicon (Si) uptake is higher in phosphorus-depleted soils where carboxylate release is common.
Carboxylates can enhance mineral dissolution, potentially increasing Si availability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of root-released carboxylates in plant silicon accumulation.
To explore the link between carboxylate exudation, soil phosphorus availability, and plant Si uptake.
To propose a mechanism where carboxylate-mediated Si mobilization is integrated with phosphorus acquisition strategies.

Main Methods:

The study proposes a conceptual framework based on existing literature and experimental evidence.
It integrates knowledge of plant nutrient acquisition strategies, soil chemistry, and mineralogy.
The authors suggest future experimental validation of the proposed mechanisms.

Main Results:

Root-released carboxylates, common in nutrient-poor soils, can mobilize soil silicon from minerals.
This Si mobilization may be a secondary benefit of carboxylate release for phosphorus acquisition.
Plant Si accumulation depends on the co-evolution of Si mobilization and Si transporter expression in roots.

Conclusions:

Rhizosphere processes, particularly carboxylate release, play a significant role in plant silicon accumulation.
Integrating Si acquisition with phosphorus acquisition strategies may reduce the carbon cost for plants.
Understanding these interactions is crucial for plant adaptation to diverse soil conditions and for agricultural applications.