Theory and application of a Si-based defense barrier for plants: Implications for soil-plant-atmosphere system health

AbstractDue to the frequent occurrence of extreme weather and severe environmental pollution, food security and human survival are at risk. Silicon, a key element in plant nutrition and environmental remediation, has a variety of applications in combatting various forms of abiotic and biotic stress and fostering healthy plants and soils. To establish a silicon-based defense barrier for plants, we firstly summarized and grouped the mechanisms of silicon functioning in plants: 1) molecular regulation and overall strengthening, 2) physical barrier and apoplastic obstruction, and 3) energy conservation. Additionally, the types and applications of silicon-based materials as soil remediation materials and fertilizers were discussed. Then, the challenges to build up such a barrier were analyzed in terms of silicon absorption and transportation, deposition and aggregation, and perception and regulation. An "external + internal" strategy was proposed to accelerate the establishment of a silicon-based barrier to enhance plants’ resistance to extreme weather and environmental pollution, including high temperatures, drought, ultraviolet radiation, salt, heavy metals, nutrient deficiencies, new pollutants, and biotic stress. Finally, this paper emphasized the contribution of silicon barrier to healthy Soil-Plant-Atmosphere system that eventually benefit human health. This paper highlights the current understanding and future perspectives of silicon-related research in Soil-Plant-Atmosphere system, providing a reference for the application of silicon-based materials in environmental and agricultural fields.Keywords: environmental pollutionplant healthSiliconsoil healthstress resistanceHandling Editors: Dan Tsang and Lena Q. Ma Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was jointly supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32272799), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 226-2023-00077) and National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2018YFD0800202).