Silicon regulates hyperhydricity in Dendrobium officinale by decreasing ethylene content and enhancing antioxidant capacity
摘要
Dendrobium officinale regenerated plants were divided into a normal control group (Normal), a hyperhydricity group (HH), and a silicon-treated hyperhydricity group (HH and Si); and the study investigated how silicon mitigates hyperhydricity by regulating water metabolism, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant system, ethylene-polyamine metabolism, stomatal morphology, and molecular mechanisms. The results revealed significant differences between the HH group and the Normal group. The HH group exhibited a substantial increase in free water content, as well as reduced photosynthetic pigment content, diminished antioxidant enzyme activity, elevated ethylene levels, lower polyamine concentrations, and impaired stomatal regulation. In contrast, the HH and Si group exhibited recovered free water content to Normal group levels, markedly increased photosynthetic pigments, enhanced antioxidant capacity, reduced ethylene content, elevated polyamine levels, and restored stomatal function. Furthermore, silicon supplementation suppressed the expression of ethylene synthesis genes and increased that of polyamine synthesis genes. These findings indicated that silicon alleviates hyperhydricity in D. officinale regenerated plants through multifaceted mechanisms. Specifically, silicon mitigated the adverse effects of hyperhydricity by: (1) restoring cellular water balance and minimizing structural damage from free water accumulation; (2) recovering photosynthetic pigment content and boosting antioxidant enzyme activity; and (3) rebalancing ethylene-polyamine antagonism to improve stomatal function. This study provided a theoretical foundation and technical framework for managing hyperhydricity in D. officinale regenerated plants.