Work

Silicon priming triggers differential physiological, ionomic and metabolic responses in olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars with different tolerance to salinity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Salinity stress can negatively influence the growth potential and productivity of olive trees affecting photosynthesis and, disturbing ions homeostasis and essential metabolic pathways. Silicon (Si) is proposed as exogenous pretreatment for mitigate the salinity impact on olive plants. One-year old ‘Frantoio’ (salt-tolerant) and ‘Leccino’ (salt-sensitive) plants (n = 5) were grown in pots filled with sand and clay and pretreated for 28 days with 10 mg L −1 of Si(OH) 4 then, for 51 days with 100 mM NaCl (12.15 g for each plant) and compared to control plants. The following hypotheses have been tested: i) Si pretreatment enhances photosynthetic performance by regulating stomatal closure and decreasing water loss; ii) Si reduces Na + uptake and accumulation in new leaves; iii) Si improve the biosynthesis of compatible osmolytes that have a role in the regulation of the osmotic stress induced by salinity. The Si priming effect in olive tree was cultivar dependent. In ‘Frantoio’ Si induce a rapid early decrease of stomatal conductance increasing the intrinsic water use efficiencies ( int WUE) not observed in ‘Leccino’ plants. In ‘Leccino’ the key Si effect was the reduction of Na + accumulation in new leaves (−58 %) and maintenance of the K + concentration under salinity. Specific interactions between Si and NaCl and the number of polyphenols affected were higher in ‘Frantoio’ than in ‘Leccino’. Among the key mechanisms related to the Si-mediated tolerance to salt stress we can conclude that photosynthesis and Na + uptake are the two principals involved in the responses of salinity to ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Leccino’ cultivars. • Silicon has been used as priming biostimulant in olive tree under salinity stress. • Under salinity, the silicon priming effect is cultivar dependent. • In ‘Frantoio’ silicon decreased stomatal conductance and water loss. • Silicon reduces Na + uptake in ‘Leccino’ and increases K + /Na + ratio in new leaves

Source: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109809

Authors: Carmen Fidalgo-Illesca, Alessandra Francini, Andrea Raffaelli, Luca Sebastiani

Institution: Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Language: English

Topic: Silicon Effects in Agriculture

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990