Table 2.
Role of silicon nanoparticles in plant growth and development.
| Structure of Si-NPs |
Crop | Concentration | Adaptive Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 (chemical) |
Saccharum officinarum L. | 300 ppm | Improves leaf photosynthetic responses, chlorophyll fluorescence yield, photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic apparatus (PS II) during chilling stress | [94] |
| SiO2 (chemical) |
Glycine max L. | 100–2000 ppm | Si-NPs increase plant performance and reduce the uptake of Hg in epidermis and pericycle of roots and stems. They enhance photosynthetic content and antioxidant enzyme activities in soybean during exposure to mercury (Hg) | [95] |
| SiO2 (chemical) |
Hordeum vulgare L. | 125–250 ppm | Improves plant development, green pigments, photosynthetic activities, plant osmolyte and metabolite profiles, cellular damage and membrane stability indicators, and antioxidant enzymes are all affected. | [96] |
| Si-NPs (chemical) |
Oryza sativa L. | 1 mM | Enhances gene expression and transportation of cadmium to vacuoles. | [97] |
| SiO2 (commercial) |
Trigonella foenumL. | 0–2.5 mM | Increases nanoparticle translocation, accumulation, Si uptake, cell wall lignification and the formation of stress-related enzymes during metal toxicity (cadmium) | [98] |
| Si-NPs (chemical) |
Triticum aestivumL. | 10 µM | Mitigates negative effects of UV radiation on plants | [99] |
| Mesoporous Si-NPs (chemical) |
Triticum spp. L., Lupinus polyphyllusL. | 200–2000 ppm | Nanoparticles upregulate leaf gas exchange responses and growth development performance of plants | [100] |
| SiO2 (commercial) |
Pisum sativum L. | 10 µM | Protects plant seedlings and increases enzymatic activities | [101] |