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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253027

Title: Silicon in Ornamental Crops: Detection, Delivery, and Function

Author
item Frantz, Jonathan
item Locke, James
item Sturtz, Douglas - Doug
item LEISNER, SCOTT - University Of Toledo

Submitted to: Silicon in Agriculture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2010
Publication Date: 8/15/2010
Citation: Frantz, J., Locke, J.C., Sturtz, D.S., Leisner, S. 2010. Silicon in Ornamental Crops: Detection, Delivery, and Function. Silicio na Agricultura: Anais do V Simposio Brasileiro sobre Silicio Agricultura. Editor: Fabricio Rodriguez. pp.111-134.

Interpretive Summary: Inclusion of Silicon (Si) in fertilizer solutions is not a typical management practice in floriculture crop production in the United States, in spite of the growing body of literature showing a clear, beneficial effect on plant growth for some species. We have evaluated Si uptake in 46 crops utilizing hydroponics with and without Si in the nutrient solution. Roughly 50% of the species tested had Si concentrations higher than 0.1% dry weight in the leaf tissue. Fertigation is effective, but mixing can be expensive and require additional pH management. We have investigated applying a Si-containing industrial mineral called slag, Si-containing plant materials like rice hulls and biofuel crop residue instead of fertigation. We have investigated Si as a contaminant in commonly encountered materials in order to minimize contamination. Using zinnia and sunflower, comparable amounts of Si could be supplied to plants when Si-containing plant materials were incorporated into the substrate compared to unamended but fertigated control plants. Finally, we have investigated the function of Si in plants. For example, the role of Si in plant responses to Cu stress was investigated in the floriculture crop Zinnia elegans. Based on visible plant symptoms and dry weights in zinnia, Si was found to alleviate copper stress. Cu concentrations inside the leaf were significantly lower in Cu and Si treatments compared to Cu toxicity treatments alone. Additional functions for Si include minimizing or delaying powdery mildew in zinnia. Together, this information has served in identifying species of floriculture crops that may benefit from supplemental Si during production as well as sources of Si for economical application of Si to floricultural crops, which could result in higher quality plants with fewer and less expensive agrochemical inputs.

Technical Abstract: Inclusion of Silicon (Si) in fertilizer solutions is not a typical management practice in floriculture crop production in the United States, in spite of the growing body of literature showing a clear, beneficial effect on plant growth for some species. We have evaluated Si uptake in 46 crops utilizing hydroponics with and without Si in the nutrient solution using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy analysis. Roughly 50% of the species tested had Si concentrations higher than 0.1% dry weight in the leaf tissue. Fertigation is effective, but mixing can be expensive and require additional pH management. We have investigated applying a Si-containing industrial mineral byproduct, generally referred to as slag, as well as Si-containing plant materials like rice hulls and biofuel crop residue. Additionally, we have investigated commonly encountered materials and solutions for their “background” Si concentrations in order to minimize contamination. Using the Si-accumulating species zinnia and sunflower as model crops, comparable amounts of Si could be supplied to plants when Si-containing plant materials were incorporated into the substrate compared to unamended but fertigated control plants. Finally, several diverse systems have been utilized to investigate the function of Si in plants. For example, the role of Si in plant responses to Cu stress was investigated in the floriculture crop Zinnia elegans. Based on visible plant symptoms and dry weights in zinnia, Si was found to alleviate copper stress. Furthermore, zinnia showed a reduction in PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, a stress-induced enzyme) activity, suggesting Cu stress decreases in tissue exposed to supplemental Si. Cu concentrations inside the leaf were significantly lower in Cu+Si treatments compared to Cu toxicity treatments alone. Additional functions for Si include minimizing or delaying powdery mildew in zinnia. Together, this information has served in identifying species of floriculture crops that may benefit from supplemental Si during production as well as sources of Si for economical application of Si to floricultural crops, which could result in higher quality plants with fewer and less expensive agrochemical inputs.