carbohydrates, and osmolytes, especially in leaf apoplasm (Joudmand and Hajibolan
2019) (Table 2.1). Being the first site to be exposed to the cues of low temperature,
overwintering plants often accumulate anti-freeze amino acids and compatible
sugars in their apoplasm (Liang et al. 2015).
2.4.5 Nutrition Stress
Since a long time, there is a common observation that tremendous use of nitrogen
fertilizers is being practiced by farmers for the multiple benefits, however, this also
results in adverse effects such as enhanced lodging coupled with susceptibility to
both pests and diseases (Ma 2004; Thomidis et al. 2016; Khan et al. 2018; Hosseini
et al. 2015). There are many reports in which silicon has been used to minimize this
offside issues as the silicate crystals provide mechanical strength as well as hinder
insect feeding and inhibit penetration of fungal germ tube on the plant surface
(Elsherbiny and Taher 2018; Singh et al. 2020). Besides, there are many reports
which endorse the enhanced uptake and assimilation of an important nutrient,
i.e. nitrogen in the presence of silicon (Pati et al. 2016; Malav Jugal and Ramani
2017; Patil et al. 2018; Haddad et al. 2018; Laîné Haddad et al. 2019; Gou et al.
2020; Raj et al. 2020). In addition, the use of silicon has also resulted in improved
nodulation, better N 2 fixation, increased N use efficiency, and stimulated amino acid
remobilization (Detmann et al. 2012; Steiner et al. 2018; Kurdali et al. 2019;
Mohanty et al. 2020). Furthermore, excessive concentration of nitrogen is also
toxic as it negatively affects plant and the quality of their products (Neilsen et al.
2008; Hilbert et al. 2015; Abrol et al. 2017). Si also mitigates excessive nitrogen
stress (Singh et al. 2006; Liang et al. 2015; Campos et al. 2016; Barreto et al. 2016,
2017; Viciedo et al. 2019, 2020).
Next to nitrogen, phosphorus is another essential mineral element required for
plant vigor in higher amount but the contrasting point is low availability of plantavailable phosphorus in soil (Achary et al. 2017; Chu et al. 2020). In this regard, the
application of soluble silicon fertilizers has resulted in an increased amount of
bioavailable phosphorus as well as water-soluble phosphorus concentration
(Owino-Gerroh and Gascho 2005; Singh et al. 2006; Liang et al. 2015; Tripathi
et al. 2016; Agostinho et al. 2017; Zia et al. 2017; Kostic et al. 2017; Rezakhani et al.
2019; Zhang et al. 2019; Liao et al. 2020). The mechanism operating for how the
silicon influence phosphorus uptake in plants was solved before the onset of the
twenty-first century (Etesami and Jeong 2018, 2020).
In addition, potassium is also one of the major macronutrients that play important
role in plant’s growth, development, and metabolism as well as even range up to
2–10% of the dry mass (Cruz et al. 2019; Etesami and Jeong 2020). Silicon
application has been also reported to alleviate the K-deficiency stress in stressed
plants by modifying K-availability in both plants as well as soil (Mali and Aery
2008; Miao et al. 2010; Chen et al. 2016; Cuong et al. 2017). Sulfur-deficient barley
crops were alleviated by supplementation of Si which helps regulate the action of
ABA metabolism-related genes (Maillard et al. 2018). Additionally, application of
30
S. Mehta et al.
2019) (Table 2.1). Being the first site to be exposed to the cues of low temperature,
overwintering plants often accumulate anti-freeze amino acids and compatible
sugars in their apoplasm (Liang et al. 2015).
2.4.5 Nutrition Stress
Since a long time, there is a common observation that tremendous use of nitrogen
fertilizers is being practiced by farmers for the multiple benefits, however, this also
results in adverse effects such as enhanced lodging coupled with susceptibility to
both pests and diseases (Ma 2004; Thomidis et al. 2016; Khan et al. 2018; Hosseini
et al. 2015). There are many reports in which silicon has been used to minimize this
offside issues as the silicate crystals provide mechanical strength as well as hinder
insect feeding and inhibit penetration of fungal germ tube on the plant surface
(Elsherbiny and Taher 2018; Singh et al. 2020). Besides, there are many reports
which endorse the enhanced uptake and assimilation of an important nutrient,
i.e. nitrogen in the presence of silicon (Pati et al. 2016; Malav Jugal and Ramani
2017; Patil et al. 2018; Haddad et al. 2018; Laîné Haddad et al. 2019; Gou et al.
2020; Raj et al. 2020). In addition, the use of silicon has also resulted in improved
nodulation, better N 2 fixation, increased N use efficiency, and stimulated amino acid
remobilization (Detmann et al. 2012; Steiner et al. 2018; Kurdali et al. 2019;
Mohanty et al. 2020). Furthermore, excessive concentration of nitrogen is also
toxic as it negatively affects plant and the quality of their products (Neilsen et al.
2008; Hilbert et al. 2015; Abrol et al. 2017). Si also mitigates excessive nitrogen
stress (Singh et al. 2006; Liang et al. 2015; Campos et al. 2016; Barreto et al. 2016,
2017; Viciedo et al. 2019, 2020).
Next to nitrogen, phosphorus is another essential mineral element required for
plant vigor in higher amount but the contrasting point is low availability of plantavailable phosphorus in soil (Achary et al. 2017; Chu et al. 2020). In this regard, the
application of soluble silicon fertilizers has resulted in an increased amount of
bioavailable phosphorus as well as water-soluble phosphorus concentration
(Owino-Gerroh and Gascho 2005; Singh et al. 2006; Liang et al. 2015; Tripathi
et al. 2016; Agostinho et al. 2017; Zia et al. 2017; Kostic et al. 2017; Rezakhani et al.
2019; Zhang et al. 2019; Liao et al. 2020). The mechanism operating for how the
silicon influence phosphorus uptake in plants was solved before the onset of the
twenty-first century (Etesami and Jeong 2018, 2020).
In addition, potassium is also one of the major macronutrients that play important
role in plant’s growth, development, and metabolism as well as even range up to
2–10% of the dry mass (Cruz et al. 2019; Etesami and Jeong 2020). Silicon
application has been also reported to alleviate the K-deficiency stress in stressed
plants by modifying K-availability in both plants as well as soil (Mali and Aery
2008; Miao et al. 2010; Chen et al. 2016; Cuong et al. 2017). Sulfur-deficient barley
crops were alleviated by supplementation of Si which helps regulate the action of
ABA metabolism-related genes (Maillard et al. 2018). Additionally, application of
30
S. Mehta et al.