title: The role of silicon in physiology of the medicinal plant (Lonicera japonica L.) under salt stress.
abstract: Silicon(Si) is the only element which can enhance the resistance to multiple stresses. However, the role of silicon in medicinal plants under salt stress is not yet understood. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of silicon addition on the growth, osmotic adjustments, photosynthetic characteristics, chloroplast ultrastructure and Chlorogenic acid (CGA) production of Honeysuckle plant (Lonicera japonica L.) under salt-stressed conditions. Salinity exerted an adverse effect on the plant fresh weight and dry weight, whilst 0.5 g L(-1) K2SiO3 · nH2O addition obviously improved the plant growth. Although Na(+) concentration in plant organs was drastically increased with increasing salinity, higher levels of K(+)/Na(+) ratio was obtained after K2SiO3 · nH2O addition. Salinity stress induced the destruction of the chloroplast envelope; however, K2SiO3 · nH2O addition counteracted the adverse effect by salinity on the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus. K2SiO3 · nH2O addition also enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. To sum up, exogenous Si plays a key role in enhancing its resistance to salt stresses in physiological base, thereby improving the growth and CGA production of Honeysuckle plant.
authors.affiliation: 1] College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China [2] Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Marine Biology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gengmao
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shihui
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yizhou
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zipan
mesh_terms: D002374:Catalase / Q000187:drug effects; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D031239:Lonicera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000187:drug effects; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012824:Silicic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase