Influence of silicon on antioxidant mechanisms and lipid peroxidation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars under drought stress

The effects of exogenous silicon (Si) on leaf relative water content (RWC), and the growth, Si concentrations, lipid peroxidation (MDA), lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, proline and H2O2 accumulation, non-enzymatic antioxidant activity (AA) and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX) in shoots of ten chickpea cultivars grown under drought were investigated. Drought stress decreased the growth of all the cultivars while applied Si improved the growth at least five of the 10 chickpea cultivars. Silicon applied to the soil at 100 mg kg(-1) significantly increased Si concentrations of the cultivars and counteracted the deleterious effects of drought in 5 of the ten chickpea cultivars by increasing their RWC. In most cultivars tested H2O2, proline and MDA content and LOX activity were increased by drought whereas application of Si decreased their levels. APX activity was increased by drought but it was depressed by Si. In general, SOD and CAT activities of the cultivars were decreased by drought. Depending on cultivars, the CAT activity was decreased, and increased or unchanged in response to applied Si, while the SOD activity of the cultivars increased or unchanged by Si. The non-enzymatic antioxidant activity of the cultivars was also increased by Si. These observations implied an essential role for Si in minimizing drought stress-induced limitation of the growth and oxidative membrane damage in chickpea plants.