Silicon mitigates ammonium toxicity in yellow passionfruit seedlings

• Published in: Chilean journal of agricultural research Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 425 - 434
• Main Authors: Junior, Gabriel B. da Silva, Prado, Renato M, Campos, Cid. N.S, Agostinho, Flavia B, Silva, Sylvia L.O, Santos, Luiz C.N, Gonzalez, Leonides C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chillán Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias 01.07.2019; Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Accumulation; AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; AGRONOMY; Ammonium; Bark; Biochemistry; Calcium; Carbon dioxide; Chlorophyll; Conductance; Electrolyte leakage; Electrolytes; Energy consumption; Experiments; Leaf area; Leaves; Magnesium; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Nutrition; Passiflora ligularis; Photosynthesis; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Pine trees; Plant sciences; Potassium; Resistance; Salinity; Seedlings; Shoots; Silicon; Soil sciences; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Toxicity; Transpiration; Trends; Brazil; New Hampshire; California; United States > US; toxicity; beneficial element; Passiflora edulis; NH4; Abiotic stress; nitrogen
• ISSN: 0718-5839; 0718-5820; 0718-5839
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-58392019000300425

Ammonium (NH/) toxicity in yellow passionfruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa O. Deg.) may be mitigated by Si application. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effect of Si and high level of NH/ on yellow passionfruit seedlings nutrition, physiology, growth, and DM production. Pots were filled with pinus bark and nutrition solution was applied. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design, with five replicates, in a 2 X 2 factorial scheme: two ratios of NH/ and nitrate, NC/ (40/60%, without high level of NH/; and 75/25%, with high level of NH/) at N concentration of 13 mmol N [L.sup.-1], in the absence and presence of Si (2.0 mmol [L.sup.-1]). Sixty days after seedling transplant it was evaluated: N, Si, K, Ca and Mg root and shoots accumulation, leaf green color index (GCI), electrolyte leakage index (ELI), intracellular [CO.sub.2] concentration (Q), transpiration rate ([T.sub.r]), stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stem diameter, leaf area, root length, N use efficiency (NUE) and root and shoot DM content. Plants cultivated with Si had 19.1% and 16.3% lower T and gs, respectively, regardless NH/ concentration. Moreover, Ci and Pn were 13.2% and 16.4%, respectively, higher in plants that received Si. Plants cultivated under high NH/ concentrations, with Si application had 17% bigger stem diameter and 15.4% bigger root length than plants without Si application. Si application in yellow passionfruit seedlings cultivated with high level of NH/ increased accumulation and NUE, root length, root DM, and GCI. In addition, Si application reduced ELI, which resulted in higher stem diameter. These results prove that Si application mitigates NH/ toxicity in yellow passionfruit seedlings. Key words: Abiotic stress, beneficial element, [mathematical expression not reproducible], nitrogen, Passiflora edulis, toxicity.