Application of silicon sources in yam (Dioscorea spp.) micropropagation

Abstract

The addition of silicon is known to produce satisfactory results in several types of plant cultures. However, there are no reports on the effects of addition of silicon to yam (Dioscorea spp.) micropropagation culture medium. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different silicon concentrations and sources on the growth characteristics of yam plants cultivated in vitro. Three sources of silicon were tested: potassium silicate, calcium silicate, and sodium silicate, each at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg L-1, in all possible combinations. The experimental design was entirely randomized in a 3 × 4 factorial scheme with four replicates and twelve plants per treatment. The 2 mg L-1 sodium silicate supplement yielded the highest number of leaves (7.0) whereas the 1 mg L-1 sodium silicate produced the longest shoots (4.02 cm). Calcium silicate and potassium silicate yielded the highest fresh weight (0.2835 g and 0.2627 g, respectively). Overall, silicon promotes better plant development, with calcium silicate yielding the highest fresh weight. For in vitro yam cultivation, sodium silicate concentrations ranging between 1-2 mg L-1 are ideal.