Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(4):249-258 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2025-PSE

Effects of silicon on the transport, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms of lead in Salix viminalis L.Original Paper

Feifei Zhai1, Menglong Yin1, Jinmei Mao2, Junxiang Liu3, Haidong Li1, Yunxing Zhang1, Shaowei Zhang4, Zhenyuan Sun3
1 School of Architectural and Artistic Design, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, P.R. China
2 Research Institute of Economic Forest, Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, Urumqi, P.R. China
3 State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding; Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation State Forestry Administration, Beijing, P.R. China
4 College of Agriculture and Medicine, Henan Open University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China

Lead (Pb) is a harmful heavy metal that threatens ecosystems and plant growth. Silicon (Si) plays a crucial role in plant responses to heavy metal stress. In this study, the effects of Si on Pb2+ content and transport, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms in Salix viminalis L. under Pb stress were analysed, aiming to elucidate the detoxification mechanism of Si in S. viminalis under such conditions. Results showed that Si reduced Pb2+ in aboveground parts and increased it in roots, lowering its movement to leaves and stems. Analysis of the subcellular distribution of Pb2+ revealed that Si application promoted the transfer of Pb2+ to vacuole-dominated soluble components (F4) and cell wall components (F1), which increased the binding capacity of the cell wall and the vacuolar storage compartmentalisation for Pb2+. Changes in the chemical forms of Pb2+ indicated that Si significantly decreased the proportion of more mobile, ethanol-extractable Pb2+ (FE) and deionised water-extractable Pb2+ (FW) while increasing the proportion of less mobile Pb2+ forms, such as NaCl-extractable (FNaCl), HCl-extractable (FHCl), and acetic acid-extractable (FHAc) Pb2+, thereby reducing its mobility. This study provides empirical support for the application of Si in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Keywords: heavy metal; toxic element; toxicity; accumulation; detoxification

Received: January 6, 2025; Revised: March 27, 2025; Accepted: March 27, 2025; Prepublished online: April 7, 2025; Published: April 30, 2025  Show citation

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Zhai F, Yin M, Mao J, Liu J, Li H, Zhang Y, et al.. Effects of silicon on the transport, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms of lead in Salix viminalis L. Plant Soil Environ. 2025;71(4):249-258. doi: 10.17221/8/2025-PSE.
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