Plant, Soil and Environment, 2025 (vol. 71), issue 4
Effects of silicon on the transport, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms of lead in Salix viminalis L.Original Paper
Feifei Zhai, Menglong Yin, Jinmei Mao, Junxiang Liu, Haidong Li, Yunxing Zhang, Shaowei Zhang, Zhenyuan Sun
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(4):249-258 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2025-PSE 
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...
Soil lithium affects carrot growth by changing cation concentrations and physiological attributesOriginal Paper
Hafiz Faiq Bakhat, Kunwar Rasul, Abu Bakr Umer Farooq, Hafiz Mohkum Hammad, Saira Afzal, Sunaina Abbas, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Faiz Rabbani, Shah Fahad, Gabrijel Ondrasek, Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(4):259-268 | DOI: 10.17221/19/2025-PSE
Lithium (Li) plays a significant role in human physiology and psychology; however, it is non-essential for plants. The extensive use of Li in industrial processes and battery-powered devices poses a potential global threat to living organisms. This study assessed the impact of varying soil Li concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg) on carrot (Daucus carota L.) plants. Results revealed that Li concentrations exceeding 40 mg/kg soil had detrimental effects on carrot growth. Compared to 0 mg/kg soil, Li concentrations of 60 and 80 mg/kg reduced shoot fresh biomass by 51% and 82%, respectively, and root fresh biomass by 68% and 89%, respectively....
The impact of organic selenium on the growth and physiological traits of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. seedlingsOriginal Paper
Yi Luo, Xiaoqing Zhang, Yibo Zhang, Changjuan Shan
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(4):269-277 | DOI: 10.17221/348/2024-PSE
This study examined the impact of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth and physiological traits of Salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings. Application of SeMet significantly improved the photosynthetic performance by reducing stomatal limitation value (Ls) and increasing soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs) and water use efficiency (WUE), compared to the control. Furthermore, SeMet also improved the photosynthetic performance by reducing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and increasing the actual photochemical efficiency of...
Exogenous proline enhances salt tolerance in wheat: regulating osmolytes, hormonal balance, antioxidant defence, and yield performanceOriginal Paper
Abeer Hamdy Elhakem
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(4):278-292 | DOI: 10.17221/97/2025-PSE
This study investigates the impacts of exogenously applied proline (Pro, 10 mmol/L) on the growth and productivity of wheat plants in saline environments. The findings indicated that increased NaCl concentrations, 60 and 120 mmol/L, further depressed the shoot and root growth parameters and flag leaf area. However, the Pro treatment ameliorated salt stress and improved all growth parameters, reducing the magnitude of such growth inhibitions compared to nontreated plants. It also enhanced the organic osmolyte accumulation, including Pro, total soluble sugars, and total soluble protein, implicated in osmotic balance and cell protection under stress....