Sources of silicon influence photosystem and redox homeostasis-related proteins during the axillary shoot multiplication of Dianthus caryophyllus

The present endeavor has demonstrated the impacts of different sources of silicon (Si) such as potassium silicate (K2SiO3) and calcium silicate (CaSiO3) during the in vitro axillary shoot multiplication of carnation. For the Si treatments, nodal explants were cultured onto the Murashige and Skoog's medium fortified with 1.0mgL(-1) of 6-benzyladenine and 0.5mgL(-1) indole-3-acetic acid with or without K2SiO3 and CaSiO3 in three different concentrations (0, 1.8, or 3.6mM). After six weeks, the shoot induction ratio, number of shoots produced per explant, expression of photosystem (PS) I and II core proteins, and activities of antioxidant enzymes were examined. Among the Si sources, K2SiO3 application enhanced the axillary shoot multiplication and the uptake of Si on comparison with CaSiO3. Both forms of Si resulted in the enhancement of stomatal density, and PS-related protein such as PsaA and PsbA illustrating the apparent involvement of Si on the photosynthetic process. Nevertheless, addition of Si improved the antioxidant capacity during the in vitro shoot multiplication. Overall, the outcomes of the present study suggested that Si can be utilized as a supplementary source during the in vitro propagation of carnation.