Study of silicon effects on antioxidant enzyme activities and osmotic adjustment of wheat under drought stress

The effect of silicon (Si) was investigated on the major antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll and soluble protein contents, proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB) accumulation in three different growth stages (2nd, 4th leaf and tillering stages) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants under drought stress. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design for three treatments including control, drought and Si-drought (2mM silicate sodium/kg) with three replications in a greenhouse. The results indicated that Si partially offset the negative impacts of drought stress increasing the tolerance of wheat by rising Pro and GB accumulation and soluble protein content. Compared with the plants treated with drought, applied Si significantly enhanced the activities of SOD, CAT, APX and POD. In contrast, drought stress caused a considerable decrease in RWC, chlorophyll and soluble protein contents. This Si effect was time-dependent and became stronger in the tillering stage. The results of the present experiment coincided with the conclusion that Si alleviates water deficit of wheat by preventing the oxidative membrane damage and may be associated with plant osmotic adjustment.