interTALENT UNIDEB 2017

interTALENT UNIDEB 2017. február 23-24. Debreceni Egyetem
BERECZKI ANNA
Debreceni Egyetem
Kossuth Lajos Gyakorló Gimnáziuma
SILICON-BASED VITAL FORCE?
EFFECT OF SILICON TREATMENT
ON THE ANATOMY AND
BIOGENIC SILICON CONTENT
IN ORGANS OF A MAIZE (ZEA
MAYS L.) HYBRID
28
In the summer of 2016 I had the opportunity to
join the research of the Agricultural Botany, Plant
Physiology and Biotechnology Department of the
University of Debrecen, where I studied the role
of biogenic silicon in the yield stability and yield
enhancement.
Silicon is taken up by the plants from the soil in
the form of mono silicic-acid, and although its
physiological role is diff erent in plant families it
can be eff ective in the stress tolerance of plants. In
my research I tested a high Si-content product (in
granular form) and my aim was to develop an agro
technological method which can improve the stress
tolerance of crops, and therefore their yield stability
and yield results as well.
My experimental subject was SY Afi nity, which
accumulates silicon intensively. I placed 4-4 maize
grains in 12 pots. In one third of the pots silicic-acid
treatment was used, another third was treated with
high Si-content product and the third group was
the control one. After sampling, the experiment
was ended at 6-8-leaf stage of plant. To measure
biogenic silicon content of roots, youngest and
oldest leaves dry-ashing method was used. Crosssections
were made at the appropriate points of the
root and stem, in which we analysed the eff ects of
the treatments applying quantitative comparison of
the sclerenchyma using a light microscope.
Based on the results of my research the biogenic
silicon content was higher both in the roots and
older leaves of the plants, which were treated by
silicic-acid and the high Si-content product. The
biogenic silicon content of the older leaves was not
higher in the treated plants, therefore the starter
eff ect is traceable until the 5-6th leaves appear.
The stem was signifi cantly thicker in case of silicicacid
treatment, which proves the rapid silicicacid
availability. Moreover, the stimulating role of
granular product can be detected. It was evident,
that in the thicker stems signifi cantly broader
sclerenchyma had been developed.
During the experiment, we were able to support the
idea, that Si increases stem stability, which could play
a role in increasing yield safety. And we also were
able to enhance the Si-content of the roots, which
could reduce pest damage. For these reasons, it is
absolutely worth carrying out further research.