Nano-silicon and regulator treatments unlock genotype-specific growth and yield responses in durum and common wheat under field conditions.
- 1Plant Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Khuzestan, 47189-63616, Iran. [email protected].
- 2Plant Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Khuzestan, 47189-63616, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Enhancing wheat productivity under real-world field conditions remains a major challenge for sustainable agriculture. Silicon-based amendments and plant growth regulators have shown promise in improving crop performance, yet their comparative effectiveness across contrasting wheat genotypes under field conditions is not well understood.Aims
This study evaluated the effects of silicon (Si), nano-silicon (NSi), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and paclobutrazol (PBZ) on a traditional wheat variety, KAMUT (Triticum turgidum L.), and a modern genotype, Chamran (Triticum aestivum L.).Results
All treatments enhanced plant growth and grain yield in both wheat varieties, accompanied by increases in photosynthetic pigments, water-soluble carbohydrates, and grain protein content. Treated plants exhibited higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, along with reduced hydrogen peroxide accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation, indicating improved cellular stability. Grain quality traits were also positively affected, as reflected by increased α-amylase activity, higher soluble sugar content, and reduced starch levels, suggesting more efficient carbohydrate mobilization. Among treatments, NSi significantly produced the strongest improvements across growth, yield, and physiological parameters, whereas PBZ showed the weakest effects. The traditional KAMUT variety generally exhibited a stronger response than the modern Chamran cultivar, revealing genotype-dependent differences in treatment responsiveness.Conclusions
Wheat performance under field conditions is strongly influenced by both genotype and treatment type. Nano-silicon, in particular, demonstrates considerable potential to enhance productivity, grain quality, and physiological resilience. The contrasting responses observed between traditional and modern wheat varieties highlight the importance of genotype-specific strategies, providing a foundation for more targeted and sustainable agronomic interventions.
Related
- Beneath the Drought: Rhizosphere Processes Shape Genotype‐Specific Sorghum Responses to Drought‐Induced N Limitation
- Genotype-specific antioxidant, reactive-carbonyl, and polyamine responses underlying heat tolerance in six winter wheat cultivars
- Zebrafish Reveals Genotype‐Specific Differences in Betanodavirus Infection and Host Responses
- Genotype-dependent growth and essential oil responses of Salvia officinalis under combined elevated CO2 and heat stress
- Human knee osteoarthritis patient-specific cartilage-on-a-chip model captures donor differences to stressors and treatments
BibTeX
@article{hajihashemi2026nanosilicon,
title = {{Nano-silicon and regulator treatments unlock genotype-specific growth and yield responses in durum and common wheat under field conditions.}},
author = {Shokoofeh Hajihashemi and Omolbanin Jahantigh and Sahira Alboghobeish},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-09631-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967983},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nano-silicon and regulator treatments unlock genotype-specific growth and yield responses in durum and common wheat under field conditions.
AU - Shokoofeh Hajihashemi
AU - Omolbanin Jahantigh
AU - Sahira Alboghobeish
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC plant biology
DO - 10.1186/s12870-026-09631-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967983
AB - Background Enhancing wheat productivity under real-world field conditions remains a major challenge for sustainable agriculture. Silicon-based amendments and plant growth regulators have shown promise in improving crop performance, yet their comparative effectiveness across contrasting wheat genotypes under field conditions is not well understood.Aims This study evaluated the effects of silicon (Si), nano-silicon (NSi), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and paclobutrazol (PBZ) on a traditional wheat variety, KAMUT (Triticum turgidum L.), and a modern genotype, Chamran (Triticum aestivum L.).Results All treatments enhanced plant growth and grain yield in both wheat varieties, accompanied by increases in photosynthetic pigments, water-soluble carbohydrates, and grain protein content. Treated plants exhibited higher phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, along with reduced hydrogen peroxide accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation, indicating improved cellular stability. Grain quality traits were also positively affected, as reflected by increased α-amylase activity, higher soluble sugar content, and reduced starch levels, suggesting more efficient carbohydrate mobilization. Among treatments, NSi significantly produced the strongest improvements across growth, yield, and physiological parameters, whereas PBZ showed the weakest effects. The traditional KAMUT variety generally exhibited a stronger response than the modern Chamran cultivar, revealing genotype-dependent differences in treatment responsiveness.Conclusions Wheat performance under field conditions is strongly influenced by both genotype and treatment type. Nano-silicon, in particular, demonstrates considerable potential to enhance productivity, grain quality, and physiological resilience. The contrasting responses observed between traditional and modern wheat varieties highlight the importance of genotype-specific strategies, providing a foundation for more targeted and sustainable agronomic interventions.
SN - 1471-2229
ER -