Silicon-mediated enhancement of wheat tolerance to drought stress: a comparative study of antioxidant activity, photosynthesis, secondary metabolites, and yield
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Drought stress (DS) is a major constraint on optimal plant growth and yield. Agricultural researchers have been actively exploring fertilizers that can enhance crop production under DS conditions. Silicon (Si) application has emerged as a promising strategy for managing DS in various crops. This study investigated the potential of Si soil drenching to mitigate the adverse effects of varying levels of DS (at 100%, 70%, and 40% field capacity) in wheat. Two varieties (Ujala-2016 and FSD-2008) were used to evaluate the influence of Si (2.5 mM) on antioxidant activity, oxidative burst, secondary metabolites, growth, and yield. The results indicated that Si drenching positively affected all growth parameters, yield attributes, antioxidant enzymes, and secondary metabolite production. However, malondialdehyde (MDA) production increased significantly under DS, with the severity of DS and varietal differences influencing its accumulation. The Ujala-2016 variety had superior growth, biological yield, 1000-grain weight, spike length, number of tillers, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant levels, osmotic adjustment, and secondary metabolite production when treated with Si. These findings suggest that Ujala-2016 is a more drought-tolerant variety. While increasing DS severity negatively impacted yield, Si treatment can be considered a valuable soil amendment for mitigating the effects of drought and ensuring food security in arid and semiarid regions.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7158509029