Effects of silicon on photosynthesis, water relations and nutrient uptake of Phaseolus vulgaris under NaCl stress

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of silicon application on Phaseolus vulgaris L. under two levels of salt stress (30 and 60 mM NaCl in the irrigation water). Salinity significantly reduced growth, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate, and increased Na+ and Cl- content mainly in roots. Silicon application enhanced growth of salt stressed plants, significantly reduced Na+ content especially in leaves and counterbalanced the effects of NaCl on gas exchange; the effect was more evident at 30 mM NaCl. Cl- content in shoots and roots was not significantly modified by silicon application; the drop in K+ content caused by salinity was partially counterbalanced by silicon, especially in roots.