Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant

Abstract Intensive fertilization of vegetables can promote phosphorus (P) toxicity. However, it can be reversed using silicon (Si), although there is a lack of research clarifying its mechanisms of action. This research aims to study the damage caused by P toxicity to scarlet eggplant plants and whe...

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Main Authors: Deyvielen Maria Ramos Alves, Jairo Neves de Oliveira, Renato de Mello Prado, Patrícia Messias Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36412-w
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author Deyvielen Maria Ramos Alves
Jairo Neves de Oliveira
Renato de Mello Prado
Patrícia Messias Ferreira
author_facet Deyvielen Maria Ramos Alves
Jairo Neves de Oliveira
Renato de Mello Prado
Patrícia Messias Ferreira
author_sort Deyvielen Maria Ramos Alves
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intensive fertilization of vegetables can promote phosphorus (P) toxicity. However, it can be reversed using silicon (Si), although there is a lack of research clarifying its mechanisms of action. This research aims to study the damage caused by P toxicity to scarlet eggplant plants and whether Si can mitigate this toxicity. We evaluated the nutritional and physiological aspects of plants. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design of two nutritional levels of adequate P (2 mmol L−1 of P) and toxic/excess P (8 to 13 mmol L−1 of P) combined with the absence or presence of nanosilica (2 mmol L−1 Si) in a nutrient solution. There were six replications. The excess P in the nutrient solution caused damage to scarlet eggplant growth due to nutritional losses and oxidative stress. We found that P toxicity can be mitigated by supplying Si, which decreases P uptake by 13%, improves C:N homeostasis, and increases iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) use efficiency by 21%, 10%, and 12%, respectively. At the same time, it decreases oxidative stress and electrolyte leakage by 18% and increases antioxidant compounds (phenols and ascorbic acid by 13% and 50%, respectively), and decreases photosynthetic efficiency and plant growth by 12% (by increasing 23% and 25% of shoot and root dry mass, respectively). These findings allow us to explain the different Si mechanisms used to reverse the damage caused by P toxicity to plants.
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spelling doaj.art-02c60bf777aa416a95755814f02a45ec2023-06-11T11:13:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-06-0113111310.1038/s41598-023-36412-wSilicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplantDeyvielen Maria Ramos Alves0Jairo Neves de Oliveira1Renato de Mello Prado2Patrícia Messias Ferreira3Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp)Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp)Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp)Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp)Abstract Intensive fertilization of vegetables can promote phosphorus (P) toxicity. However, it can be reversed using silicon (Si), although there is a lack of research clarifying its mechanisms of action. This research aims to study the damage caused by P toxicity to scarlet eggplant plants and whether Si can mitigate this toxicity. We evaluated the nutritional and physiological aspects of plants. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design of two nutritional levels of adequate P (2 mmol L−1 of P) and toxic/excess P (8 to 13 mmol L−1 of P) combined with the absence or presence of nanosilica (2 mmol L−1 Si) in a nutrient solution. There were six replications. The excess P in the nutrient solution caused damage to scarlet eggplant growth due to nutritional losses and oxidative stress. We found that P toxicity can be mitigated by supplying Si, which decreases P uptake by 13%, improves C:N homeostasis, and increases iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) use efficiency by 21%, 10%, and 12%, respectively. At the same time, it decreases oxidative stress and electrolyte leakage by 18% and increases antioxidant compounds (phenols and ascorbic acid by 13% and 50%, respectively), and decreases photosynthetic efficiency and plant growth by 12% (by increasing 23% and 25% of shoot and root dry mass, respectively). These findings allow us to explain the different Si mechanisms used to reverse the damage caused by P toxicity to plants.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36412-w
spellingShingle Deyvielen Maria Ramos Alves
Jairo Neves de Oliveira
Renato de Mello Prado
Patrícia Messias Ferreira
Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
Scientific Reports
title Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
title_full Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
title_fullStr Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
title_full_unstemmed Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
title_short Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant
title_sort silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates p toxicity in scarlet eggplant
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36412-w
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