The Effects of Silicon and Different Types of Acid Rain on Root Growth and Physiology Activity of Oryza Sativa L. Seedlings

The effect of silicon (Si) and different types of acid rain (AR) on rice seedling roots was elucidated. The results showed different types of AR had different effects. Nitrate AR at pH 3.0 could promote the growth of rice roots, increased the dry weight, improved root phenotype, boosted H2O2 contents and increased peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Sulfate AR at pH 3.0 could significantly inhibit the growth of rice roots, decreased the dry weight, root phenotype, increased H2O2 content and autioxidant enzyme activities. Sulfate-nitrate AR at pH 3.0 spraying had no significant effect on rice roots. Under different types of AR stress, the addition of exogenous Si could significantly promote the growth of rice seedling roots. This results indicated that the effects of rice root caused by AR might be due to not only the types of AR but also the content of Si in soil.