Alleviation of Chromium Toxicity by Silicon Addition in Rice Plants

Abstract

The alleviatory effect of silicon (Si) on chromium (Cr) toxicity to rice plants was investigated using a hydroponic experiment with two Cr levels (0 and 100 μmol L⁻¹), three Si levels (0, 1.25, and 2.5 mmol L⁻¹) and two rice genotypes, differing in grain Cr accumulation (Dan K5, high accumulation and Xiushui 113, low accumulation). The results showed that 100 μmol L⁻¹ Cr treatment caused a marked reduction of seedling height, dry biomass, soluble protein content, and root antioxidant enzyme activity, whereas significantly increased Cr concentration and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) content. However, the reductions of seedling height, dry biomass, and soluble content were greatly alleviated due to Si addition to the culture solution. Compared with the plants treated with Cr alone, Si addition markedly reduced Cr uptake and translocation in rice plants. No significant differences were observed between the two Si treatments (1.25 and 2.5 mmol L⁻¹) in shoot Cr concentration and Cr translocation factor. Under the treatment of 100 μmol L⁻¹ Cr+2.5 mmol L⁻¹ Si, higher root Cr concentration but lower shoot Cr concentration and Cr translocation factor were observed in Dan K5 than those in Xiushui 113, indicating that the beneficial effect of Si on inhibiting Cr translocation was more pronounced in Dan K5 than in Xiushui 113. Si addition also alleviated the reduction of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves; catalase (CAT) and APX in roots) and the increase of TBARS content in the Cr-stressed plants. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of Si on activities of antioxidative enzymes under Cr stress were genotype-dependent. The highest activities of SOD, POD (guaiacol peroxidase), CAT, and APX in leaves occurred in the treatment of 100 μmol L⁻¹ Cr+2.5 mmol L⁻¹ Si for Xiushui 113 and in the treatment of 100 μmol L⁻¹ Cr+1.25 mmol L⁻¹ Si for Dan K5. The beneficial effect of Si on alleviating oxidative stress was much more pronounced in Dan K5 than in Xiushui 113. It may be concluded that Si alleviates Cr toxicity mainly through inhibiting the uptake and translocation of Cr and enhancing the capacity of defense against oxidative stress induced by Cr toxicity.