Versatile role of silicon in cereals: Health benefits, uptake mechanism, and evolution

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 165; pp. 173 - 186
• Main Authors: Devanna, B.N., Mandlik, Rushil, Raturi, Gaurav, Sudhakaran, Sreeja S., Sharma, Yogesh, Sharma, Shivani, Rana, Nitika, Bansal, Ruchi, Barvkar, Vitthal, Tripathi, Durgesh K., Shivaraj, S.M., Deshmukh, Rupesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Biotic stress; Cereals; Si-transporter; Silicon; Biotic stress; Silicon; Cereals; Abiotic stress; Si-transporter
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.03.060

Silicon (Si) is an omnipresent and second most abundant element in the soil lithosphere after oxygen. Silicon being a beneficial element imparts several benefits to the plants and animals. In many plant species, including the cereals the uptake of Si from the soil even exceeds the uptake of essential nutrients. Cereals are the monocots which are known to accumulate a high amount of Si, and reaping maximum benefits associated with it. Cereals contribute a high amount of Si to the human diet compared to other food crops. In the present review, we have summarized distribution of the dietary Si in cereals and its role in the animal and human health. The Si derived benefits in cereals, specifically with respect to biotic and abiotic stress tolerance has been described. We have also discussed the molecular mechanism involved in the Si uptake in cereals, evolution of the Si transport mechanism and genetic variation in the Si concentration among different cultivars of the same species. Various genetic mutants deficient in the Si uptake have been developed and many QTLs governing the Si accumulation have been identified in cereals. The existing knowledge about the Si biology and available resources needs to be explored to understand and improve the Si accumulation in crop plants to achieve sustainability in agriculture. •Cereals are major dietary source of silicon which impart several health benefits in humans.•Silicon protect plants from biotic and abiotic stress, but the mechanisms needs to be unravelled.•Silicon transporters have been identified in rice however the Si-transport mechanism is not completely understood.•Various mutants and QTLs for Si accumulation have been identified in cereals.•The available resources and knowledge can be used understanding silicon accumulation in cereals.