How does silicon help alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses in plants? Mechanisms and future prospects

Increased exposure to biotic/abiotic stresses decreases the growth and yield of crops and further affects the feasibility of sustainable agricultural production. The demand for ecologically compatible, environmentally friendly, sound agricultural practices that reduce the adverse effects of biotic/abiotic stresses on plants has been on the rise worldwide. Employing silicon supplementation has received attention as a promising technique that reduces stresses on plants. Many studies in the literature report on how silicon helps plants respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon appears to be the only element that enhances the resistance of plants to multiple stresses. The action mechanisms through which silicon helps lessen biotic/abiotic stresses in plants are reviewed in this chapter. It is projected that the use of silicon will emerge as a popular, sustainable technique to alleviate plant stresses to enhance their growth. The needs of future research on the use of silicon for stressed plants are also highlighted in this chapter.