Silicon alleviates PEG-induced osmotic stress in finger millet by regulating membrane damage, osmolytes, and antioxidant defense

Drought restricts plant growth and productivity. Silicon has beneficial effects on imparting drought tolerance in plants. Present work was intended to evaluate the effect of Si on polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG) induced osmotic stress in local landraces of finger millet. The seeds of stress-tolerant and stress-sensitive landraces of finger millet were treated with distilled water, 15% PEG, and PEG+Si (5-25 ppm). The ameliorative effect of Si was evaluated in terms of percentage seed germination, seedling growth, accumulation of osmolyte and activity of antioxidative enzymes. PEG-induced osmotic stress reduced seed germination, seedling growth, and augmented osmolyte accumulation. It also elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes. The exogenous supplementation of silicon significantly improved seed germination as well as early seeding growth. Positive effects of Si were reflected in decline in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and improved glycine betaine content and antioxidant enzymes in PEG-induced stress tolerant as well as susceptible landraces. The Si-induced ameliorated effects on all the parameters studied were more pronounced in the stress-tolerant landrace (FM/ST/01) than the stress-sensitive landrace (FM/RT/01). These results clearly indicate advantageous effects of Si in relieving PEG-induced stress during seed germination and early seeding growth and suggest a possibility of better stand establishment by application of silicon containing fertilizer during seed sowing

Abstracts of National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020

This book presents the abstracts of the papers presented to the Online National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020 (RDMPMC-2020) held on 26th and 27th August 2020 organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science in Association with the Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Conference Title: National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020Conference Acronym: RDMPMC-2020Conference Date: 26–27 August 2020Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology JamshedpurCo-organizer: Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, IndiaConference Sponsor: TEQIP-