Evaluation of physiological traits and responses of some antioxidant enzymes in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) to salinity stress and silicon application

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Crop Physiology, Department of Plant Production and Genetics. Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz. Iran

2 Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics. Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz. Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics. Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz. Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Drought stress has substantially reduced the availability of freshwater resources for agricultural production in many regions worldwide. Consequently, the use of drainage water has been considered a practical strategy for sustaining crop productivity under water‑limited conditions. In addition, soil and irrigation water salinity are among the major factors limiting agricultural yield. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of silicon application on growth, physiological traits, and antioxidant enzyme activity of sugarcane under salinity stress conditions.
 
Materials and methods
The experiment was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022) in a greenhouse at the Dehkhoda Sugarcane Agriculture and Industry Company. A split–split plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was implemented. Sugarcane variety (CP73‑21 and CP69‑1062) was considered as the sub‑plot factor. Salinity stress was assigned to the main plots at three levels: a control level of 1.4 ± 0.2 dS m⁻¹ (S₀) derived from river water, and two salinity stress levels of 4.1 ± 0.2 dS m⁻¹ (S₁) and 8.2 ± 0.2 dS m⁻¹ (S₂) obtained from drainage water. The timing of silicon application was considered a sub-sub-factor with four levels: Si₀ (no silicon application, control); Si₁ (one month before stress imposition); Si₂ (during salinity stress); and Si₃ (30 days after the onset of salinity stress). In the second year, a split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was implemented using the variety CP69‑1062 (which showed greater tolerance to salinity stress than the other variety in the previous experiment). The main factor was irrigation at three salinity levels, consistent with the previous year, while the sub-factor was the timing of silicon application at two levels: no application (control, Si₀) and the optimal timing identified in the first experiment (one month before stress imposition, Si₁).
 
Results and discussion
Salinity stress significantly reduced the maximum weekly stem growth of both sugarcane varieties by 36 and 68% at salinity levels of 4.1 and 8.2 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Irrigation with salinity levels of 4.1 and 8.2 dS m⁻¹ resulted in significant reductions in stem weight (37 and 66%), leaf relative water content (6.4 and 10.8%), and photosynthetic rate (28 and 42%), while electrolyte leakage increased by 17.2 and 29.4%, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Applying silicon fertilizer one month before stress imposition was the most effective timing, significantly improving most measured traits under mild to moderate salinity levels (1.4 and 4.1 dS m⁻¹). Silicon application significantly increased leaf relative water content of sugarcane compared with the control treatment. The highest leaf-sheath moisture content, showing a 2.5% increase compared with the control treatment, was observed following silicon application one month before stress imposition. Also, the highest leaf relative water content across all salinity levels was achieved when silicon was applied one month before stress. Delaying silicon application diminished its effectiveness in maintaining leaf relative water content, particularly under higher salinity conditions. Under salinity stress, silicon application increased catalase (CAT) activity by 15.2, 56.4, and 88.9% at salinity levels of 1.4 (control), 4.1, and 8.2 dS m⁻¹, respectively, compared with non‑silicon treatments. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased by 99.8% and 115% following silicon application under salinity stress levels of 4.1 and 8.2 dS m⁻¹, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased by 9.5 and 15.8% under salinity stress at 4.1 and 8.2 dS m⁻¹, respectively, relative to the control. However, silicon application increased the activity of this enzyme by 12% compared with treatments without silicon application.
 
Conclusion
Based on the results, sugarcane cultivation can be maintained during periods of water scarcity by using drainage water from sugarcane farming, which has an average salinity of approximately 4 dS m⁻¹. This water can be used for irrigation throughout the growing season with no marked adverse effects on growth and physiological performance. Moreover, silicon fertilizer application enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and contributed to increased sugarcane tolerance to salinity stress

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 June 2026

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  • Receive Date: 09 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 17 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 28 March 2025

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