Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVI, Issue 1
Written by Liliana-Adriana PAIRAULT, Naomi TRITEAN, Diana CONSTANTINESCU-ARUXANDEI, Florin OANCEA
This review evaluates the technological solutions used to produce nanoformulated plant biostimulants made from biosilica recovered from silicon-rich biomass. Silicon improves root nutrient uptake/nutrient use efficiency, increases plant tolerance to stress, and promotes phytonutrients in edible crop yield. The exact mechanism of silicon action is not yet known. However, it is generally accepted that a flow of soluble silicon species through plant simplast is essential to produce the aforementioned effects. The main difficulties in applying soluble silicon species, silicic acid, and its di- and trimers to plants are related to the polycondensation features at very low concentrations. One of the solutions to this technical problem is to use amorphous silica, which constantly releases small quantities of soluble silicon species. For example, phytoliths formed in several plant species that concentrate the simplast flow of soluble silicon in their simplast are an excellent source of soluble silicon. Nanoformulation increases the surface/volume ratio and further improves the release of soluble silicon species. Our review focuses on the techniques used to extract and nanoformulate the biosilica from silicon-rich biomass.
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