When Silicon Enters Plant Tissue . . .
- When silicon is present in leaf tissue the concentration of sodium
in the leaf tissue is decreased by up to 50%.
- The absorption of silicon does not reduce manganese uptake, but
causes homogenous distribution of manganese in the leaf blade.
- Silicon displaces water in plant tissue as desiccation occurs in
leaf tissue thereby increasing the plants strength in dry conditions.
- Deposited silicon in the plant tissue prevents physical penetration
by some insects and/or makes plant cells less susceptible to enzymatic
degradation
by fungal pathogens.
- Aluminum toxicity can be a major factor limiting crop production
in acid soils. Ionic Al inhibits root growth and nutrient uptake.
The toxic Al is
found to be decreased by the addition of silicon in the tissue forming
a non-toxic Al-Si complexes.
- Structural functions of silicon include compression resistance
in cell walls which increases traffic resistance. Physiological functions
with increased
silicon in tissue include reduction in evapotranspiration rates and increases
in oxygen supply by strengthening air canal walls which helps plants
breath in water logged soils.
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