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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Direct Infusion Device for Molecule Delivery in Plants

Author Spotlight: Direct Infusion Device for Molecule Delivery in Plants

Published on: June 2, 2023

A pericycle-localized silicon transporter for efficient xylem loading in rice.

Sheng Huang¹, Naoki Yamaji¹, Gen Sakurai²

¹Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Chuo 2-20-1, Kurashiki, 710-0046, Japan.

The New Phytologist

|January 12, 2022

Summary

Rice utilizes silicon (Si) for stress resistance. Researchers identified OsLsi3, a silicon transporter in rice roots, crucial for moving Si from roots to shoots, enhancing plant resilience.

Keywords:

Oryza sativa OsLsi3 mathematical modeling rice rice pericycle root silicon transporter xylem loading

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Published on: January 25, 2022

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Molecular Physiology
Agricultural Science

Background:

Rice accumulates high silicon (Si) concentrations in shoots, vital for mitigating abiotic and biotic stresses.
While Si uptake transporters are known, the mechanism for xylem loading of Si remains uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

To functionally characterize the silicon transporter OsLsi3 in rice.
To determine its role in tissue-specific localization, root phenotype, and Si translocation.

Main Methods:

Functional characterization of OsLsi3, including tissue-specific expression analysis.
Immunostaining for subcellular localization and phenotypic analysis of knockout lines.
Mathematical modeling to simulate Si transport dynamics.

Main Results:

OsLsi3 functions as an efflux Si transporter, primarily expressed in mature root regions and downregulated by Si.
Localization studies revealed OsLsi3 in the pericycle, with polar localization observed when driven by the OsLsi2 promoter.
Knockout lines showed reduced Si uptake and xylem sap concentration under low Si supply, with mathematical modeling indicating OsLsi3's significant contribution to xylem loading.

Conclusions:

OsLsi3 plays a critical role in the xylem loading of silicon in rice roots.
This transporter is essential for efficient root-to-shoot translocation of Si, contributing to stress tolerance.