title: Influence of silicon on maize roots exposed to antimony - growth and antioxidative response.
abstract: Pollution of antimony (Sb) raises a serious environmental problem. Although this non-essential element can be taken up by roots and accumulated in plant tissues in relatively high concentrations, there is still lack of knowledge about the effect of Sb on biochemical and metabolic processes in plants. It was shown that application of silicon (Si) can decrease the toxicity of other heavy metals and toxic elements in various plants. The aim of this study was to assess how Si influences the growth and antioxidative response of young Zea mays L. roots exposed to elevated concentrations of Sb. Antimony reduced the root growth and induced oxidative stress and activated antioxidant defense mechanisms in maize. Silicon addition to Sb treated roots decreased oxidative stress symptoms documented by lower lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, and decreased activity of antioxidative enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.11; catalase, EC 1.11.1.6; and guaiacol peroxidase, EC 1.11.1.7). Although neither positive nor negative effect of Si has been observed on root length and biomass, changes in the oxidative response of plants exposed to Sb indicate a possible mitigation role of Si on Sb toxicity in plants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: vaculikova.miroslava@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miroslava
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaculíková
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina B2, SK-842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaculík
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Šimková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fialová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kochanová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sedláková
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Miroslava
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luxová
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010940:Plant Proteins; D000965:Antimony; D010088:Oxidoreductases
keywords: Antimony; Antioxidative enzymes; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative stress; Proline; Silicon