Silicon: a crucial element for enhancing plant resilience in challenging environments

Silicon has emerged as a critical component in enhancing plant resilience in challenging environments. Extensive research has demonstrated its effectiveness in bolstering plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and metal toxicity. By accumulating silicon within their cells and tissues, plants can fortify their cell walls and enhance their mechanical strength. This, in turn, enables them to withstand adverse conditions by reducing water loss through stomata closure and minimizing excessive transpiration. Silicon plays a crucial role in regulating ion balance within plant systems, thereby improving nutrient absorption efficiency and mitigating heavy metal toxicity. It also amplifies antioxidant defenses and facilitates the production of defense-related compounds that shield against pathogens. With its numerous advantages, silicon holds immense potential for increasing crop productivity and ensuring food security in environmentally vulnerable regions worldwide. As researchers are probing into the mechanisms underlying silicon-mediated stress tolerance and developing cutting-edge technologies, its application is considered essential for achieving sustainability in crop production. This review delves into the potential of silicon for sustainable agriculture, considering its ability to boost crop yields, enhance food security, and reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, it addresses the current limitations and potential utilization of silicon in adverse circumstances, both for agricultural productivity and ecological restoration. By exploring these aspects, this article aims to shed light on the significance of silicon in the pursuit of a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system in challenging environments.