Potency of Silicon for Enhanced Rice Productivity: A Revelation for Global Food Security

Abstract

In the current era, a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses are becoming more prevalent across the globe, which can limit the growth of plants, especially the prime crops. Silicon (Si) fertilizer is known as an ecologically compatible and biologically approachable technique for enhancing rice crop resilience to various stresses. This review comprehensively explores the standpoint of silica fertilizers focusing on their multifaceted roles in improving plant health, stress tolerance, optimizing rice productivity and sustainability. Silica, in the form silicic acid is actively absorbed by rice roots through transporters such as LSi1, LSi2, and LSi3 then transported within root cells via diffusion. This movement is essential for stress mitigation, as silicon deposition in various tissues forms a protective barrier against pest and diseases. In rice cultivation silica is crucial for enhancing structural integrity, disease resistance and stress tolerance, ultimately contributing to more robust plants and improved yield. Silica enriches enzyme activity, particularly antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase anhydrase and IAA oxidase contributing to stress tolerance with improved productivity. Its deposition within plant tissues strengthens cell walls, fortifies defences against pathogens and enables better adaptation to environmental fluctuations, ensuring the resilience and productivity of these vital crops. Si effect on mitigating biotic stresses including rice stem borer, leaf folder, sheath blight and blast by triggering physical and biochemical defence mechanisms; abiotic stresses, frequent in rice crop like salinity, drought, and heavy metal toxicity by improving osmotic adjustment, safeguarding ion homeostasis, and reducing oxidative damage.