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Effects of exogenous silicon on leaf structure and water-holding capacity of cucumber plant.

ZHOU Xiu-jie1,2;ZHAO Hong-bo3;MA Cheng-cang1;LI Qing-fang1   

  1. 1Department of Biology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China;2Anhui Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Biology, School of Life Science, Huaibei Coal Industry Teachers College, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China;3Affiliated Middle School, Huaibei Coal Industry Teachers College, Huaibei 235000, Anhui, China
  • Received:2008-08-09 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2009-03-10 Published:2009-03-10

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of silicon (K2SiO3) supply on the leaf structure and water-holding capacity of cucumber plant. The results showed that silicon supply increased the leaf thickness by 303%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗408%, epidermis thickness by 353%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗723%, palisade tissue thickness by 569%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗1152%, and cell tense ratio by 259%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗711%, and decreased the specific leaf surface area by 476%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗714% and sponge ratio by 226%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗245%. As a result, the leaf transpiration of cucumber plant decreased by 258%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗276%, and the leaf water content increased by 325%〖KG-*2〗-〖KG-*7〗362%. By the alteration of cucumber leaf structure, silicon decreased the leaf transpiration while increased the leaf water-holding capacity, and thus, enhanced the drought resistance of cucumber plant.

Key words: Long-term fertilization, Soil organic matter, Density fraction, Fluvo-aquic soil