Silicon: A Promising Solution for Pests and Abiotic Stress Management

Abstract

Silicon (Si) offers a sustainable solution for crop productivity loss due to biotic and abiotic stressors. Major advantages of Si include its environmentally friendly nature and compatibility with other methods of pest management. Si acts against pest and abiotic stressors through various mechanisms. It serves as a physical barrier, boosts biochemical defenses and regulates stress-related gene expression, enhancing resistance. Si also improves photosynthetic efficiency, increases the uptake of K and P, gas exchange, and reduces the Na⁺ uptake by enhancing H⁺-ATPase activity of the root plasma membrane and by osmotic adjustment under salinity and drought stress. Si mitigates metal toxicity by forming silicate complexes like sodium metasilicate and amorphous silica, lowering metal availability and toxicity, such as lead and cadmium, through increased soil pH. Nevertheless, the degree of damage, plant genotype and silicon availability influence silicon-mediated protection. Further large-scale field experiments are needed to fully harness Si's potential in sustainable agriculture stress management.