Silicon application enhances drought resilience in buckwheat: a comparative study of three varieties.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effects of foliar silicon (Si) application on physiological and biochemical traits in three buckwheat lines (La Harpe, Panda, Smuga) grown under optimal (control) and drought stress conditions. Plants were cultivated under controlled conditions with four treatments: Control (80% water availability), Drought (40%), Control + Si, and Drought + Si (0.5 mM Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O applied to foliage). Water stress significantly reduced relative leaf water content (RWC), osmotic potential (Ψ_s), photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange parameters (A, E, g_s ) in all varieties. It also increased malondialdehyde (MDA), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and 5-methylcytosine (5mC),

SUBMITTER: Krucky J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12503412 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature