Silicon mediates changes to some physiological and enzymatic parameters symptomatic for oxidative stress in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown under B toxicity

The effect of exogenous silicon (Si) on the growth, boron (B) uptake, stomatal conductance, lipid peroxidation (MDA), membrane permeability, lipoxygenase activity (LOX), proline and H₂O₂ accumulation, non-enzymatic antioxidant activity (AA) and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) of spinach were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Spinach plants were grown with 0 or 30 mg kg⁻¹ B combined with 0 and 150 mg kg⁻¹ Si. The severity of leaf symptoms of B toxicity was lower when the plants were grown with 150 mg kg⁻¹ Si. Silicon supplied to the soil with high B counteracted the deleterious effects of B on root and shoot growth. Application of B significantly increased B concentration in shoot and in root tissues. However, Si decreased B concentration in the shoots but increased it in the roots. Shoot tissues of spinach contained higher B than the roots in all treatments. Applied Si increased the Si concentration of the root and shoot. Stomatal conductance of the plants was decreased by B, but was increased by Si. The concentrations of H₂O₂ and proline were increased by B toxicity but were decreased by Si applied to plants. Boron toxicity increased the membrane permeability, MDA content and LOX activity of excised leaves of spinach. Applied Si ameliorated the membrane deterioration significantly. Compared with control plants, the activities of AA, SOD, CAT and APX in B-stressed plants without Si applied increased, and application of Si decreased their activities under toxic B conditions. Based on the present work, it can be concluded that Si alleviates B toxicity by preventing oxidative membrane damage and also translocation of B from root to shoots. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of Si in improving B tolerance in spinach.