U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Application Technology Research: Wooster, OH
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Departments
                        Agricultural Engineering
                                    Entomology
                                    Horticulture
                                    Plant Pathology
                                    IR-4 programSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Wooster, Ohio Application Technology Research Horticulture







Silicon Studiesheadline bar  Silicon content is determined via inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy.
Zinnia in elevated silicon hydroponics solutions.
Scanning electron microscope image of a silicon deposit in new guinea impatiens leaves.Silicon is not viewed as an essential element for plant growth because most species are able to complete their life cycle without it.  However, numerous studies have documented a beneficial role of silicon in reducing stress from disease, pest, and nutrient toxicity.  Recognizing this, commercially available forms of silicon have entered the retail market, but use of them has been limited by expense, delivery systems, and a general lack of knowledge about silicon's effects on specific crops.  Of the many different ornamental crops, relatively few have been studied for their ability to uptake silicon and beneficially use it.  Our current silicon research is directed at identifying silicon accumulation in a wider variety of crops, the potential benefits and drawbacks of silicon to both accumulator and non-accumulator crops, and appropriate methods of delivering silicon to plants through both plant-based and inorganic media and fertilizer amendments.**Silicon Overview**
Silicon In Floriculture Fertility Programs  (2011)[Popular Press Article]Does Silicon Have a Role in Ornamental Crop Production?  (2010)[Popular Press Article]Silicon in Ornamental Crops: Detection, Delivery, and Function  (2010)[Summary][Full Paper]**Uptake**
Petunia (*Petunia*x*hybrida*) Cultivars Vary in Silicon Accumulation and Distribution (2021)[Summary][Full Paper]Silicon Modulates Expression of Pathogen Defense-related Genes During Alleviation of Copper Toxicity in*Nicotiana tabacum*(2021)[Summary][Full Paper]Silicon Alleviates Long-term Copper Toxicity and Influences Gene Expression in*Nicotiana tabacum*(2019)[Summary][Full Paper]Silicon Accumulation and Distribution in Petunia and Sunflower Grown in a Rice Hull-amended Substrate (2018)[Summary][Full Paper]Micronutrient Availability from Steel slag Amendment in Peatmoss Substrates (2015)[Summary][Full Paper]Steel Slag Raises pH of Greenhouse Substrates (2015)[Summary][Full Paper]Continuing Assessment of the 5-Day Sodium Carbonate- Ammonium Nitrate Extraction Assay as an Indicator Test for Silicon Fertilizers (2015) [Summary][Full Paper]Silicon is Deposited in Leaves of New Guinea Impatiens  (2005)[Summary][Full Paper]
**Laboratory Methodology and Instrumentation**
Detection, Distribution, and Quantification of Silicon in Floricultural Crops Utilizing Three Distinct Analytical Methods  (2008)[Summary][Full Paper]
**Disease and Toxicity Resistance**
Silicon Differentially Influences Copper Toxicity Response in Silicon-accumulator and Non-accumulator Species (2011)[Summary][Full Paper]Silicon delays *Tobacco ringspot virus* systemic symptoms in *Nicotiana tabacum* (2011)[Summary][Full Paper]Influence of Silicon on Resistance of *Zinnia elegans* to *Myzus persicae*  (2009)[Summary][Full Paper]Alleviation of Copper Toxicity in *Arabidopsis thaliana* by Silicon Addition to Hydroponic Solutions  (2008)**[Summary][Full Paper]


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov