Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis

ABSTRACT This preliminary study aimed to investigate the mitigation effect of silicon (Si) on field dodder‐induced stress in sugar beet. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three factors, including parasitic infection (non‐parasitized and dodder‐parasitized sugar beet...

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Main Authors: Akbar Aliverdi, Hamed Mansouri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Plant-Environment Interactions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.70048
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author Akbar Aliverdi
Hamed Mansouri
author_facet Akbar Aliverdi
Hamed Mansouri
author_sort Akbar Aliverdi
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT This preliminary study aimed to investigate the mitigation effect of silicon (Si) on field dodder‐induced stress in sugar beet. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three factors, including parasitic infection (non‐parasitized and dodder‐parasitized sugar beet), Si source (5 mM Si in the form of Na2SiO3 or K2SiO3), and Si application method (control, seed pretreatment, irrigation, and foliar spraying). Without Si, field dodder caused a 44.9% reduction in shoot biomass and a 57.5% reduction in root biomass. Although pretreating seeds with Si solutions accelerated emergence, it did not significantly influence any other traits measured in the sugar beet. Sugar beets that received Si through irrigation exhibited better protection against field dodder than those that were sprayed; furthermore, K2SiO3 proved to be more effective than Na2SiO3. Irrigating or spraying sugar beet with K2SiO3 reduced field dodder biomass by 60%–65%, while the reduction ranged from 20% to 35% with Na2SiO3. The highest lignin content was observed by watering and spraying dodder‐parasitized sugar beet with K2SiO3, resulting in a 4.2‐fold increase through watering and a 3.8‐fold increase through spraying. Field dodder infection led to increased activity of enzymes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species, including catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lipoxygenase in sugar beet. The application of Si further increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and lipoxygenase. This preliminary study suggests that irrigating with K2SiO3 can help reduce damage caused by field dodder in sugar beet. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate the crop's response at the field level.
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spelling doaj-art-e960c965bfea474b8b7acc6d4eb70b6a2025-08-20T02:29:03ZengWileyPlant-Environment Interactions2575-62652025-04-0162n/an/a10.1002/pei3.70048Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary AnalysisAkbar Aliverdi0Hamed Mansouri1Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture Bu‐Ali Sina University Hamedan IranSugar Beet Research Department Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO Hamedan IranABSTRACT This preliminary study aimed to investigate the mitigation effect of silicon (Si) on field dodder‐induced stress in sugar beet. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three factors, including parasitic infection (non‐parasitized and dodder‐parasitized sugar beet), Si source (5 mM Si in the form of Na2SiO3 or K2SiO3), and Si application method (control, seed pretreatment, irrigation, and foliar spraying). Without Si, field dodder caused a 44.9% reduction in shoot biomass and a 57.5% reduction in root biomass. Although pretreating seeds with Si solutions accelerated emergence, it did not significantly influence any other traits measured in the sugar beet. Sugar beets that received Si through irrigation exhibited better protection against field dodder than those that were sprayed; furthermore, K2SiO3 proved to be more effective than Na2SiO3. Irrigating or spraying sugar beet with K2SiO3 reduced field dodder biomass by 60%–65%, while the reduction ranged from 20% to 35% with Na2SiO3. The highest lignin content was observed by watering and spraying dodder‐parasitized sugar beet with K2SiO3, resulting in a 4.2‐fold increase through watering and a 3.8‐fold increase through spraying. Field dodder infection led to increased activity of enzymes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species, including catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lipoxygenase in sugar beet. The application of Si further increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and lipoxygenase. This preliminary study suggests that irrigating with K2SiO3 can help reduce damage caused by field dodder in sugar beet. However, additional research is necessary to evaluate the crop's response at the field level.https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.70048biotic stresshaustoriumparasitic weedsilicon source
spellingShingle Akbar Aliverdi
Hamed Mansouri
Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
Plant-Environment Interactions
biotic stress
haustorium
parasitic weed
silicon source
title Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
title_full Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
title_fullStr Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
title_short Silicon Protection of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Against Field Dodder (Cuscuta campestris): Preliminary Analysis
title_sort silicon protection of sugar beet beta vulgaris against field dodder cuscuta campestris preliminary analysis
topic biotic stress
haustorium
parasitic weed
silicon source
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.70048
work_keys_str_mv AT akbaraliverdi siliconprotectionofsugarbeetbetavulgarisagainstfielddoddercuscutacampestrispreliminaryanalysis
AT hamedmansouri siliconprotectionofsugarbeetbetavulgarisagainstfielddoddercuscutacampestrispreliminaryanalysis