# Silicon Enhances Rice Tolerance to Drought and Blast Disease Through Modulating ROS Accumulation and Stress-Related Genes

## TL;DR

Silicon helps rice plants better handle drought and blast disease by balancing harmful oxygen molecules and activating protective genes.

## Contribution

The study reveals how silicon improves rice stress tolerance through specific gene regulation and ROS management.

## Key findings

- Silicon at 2–4 mM optimally improves rice tolerance to drought and blast disease.
- Silicon activates genes like OsNCED3, OsDREB2A, and OsCatB to enhance drought resistance via ABA signaling.
- Silicon boosts blast resistance by activating defense genes and improving ROS-scavenging capacity.

## Abstract

Silicon (Si) serves as a beneficial element that enhances plant resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Although its positive effects have been widely investigated, the molecular mechanisms by which silicon improves stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) remain unclear. Here, we show that Si displayed an optimal improved effect at concentrations of 2–4 mM in hydroponic system, and Si enhanced rice tolerance to drought and blast disease by maintaining reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and reducing root cell damage. In addition, Si at 4 mM upregulated the ABA biosynthesis gene OsNCED3, stress- and ABA-responsive genes OsDREB2A and OsLEA5, as well as the catalase gene OsCatB, while suppressing the drought-responsive negative regulator OsWRKY5, thereby enhancing drought tolerance through an ABA-dependent signaling pathway. Si at 4 mM enhanced resistance to rice blast by activating defense-related genes OsPBZ1, OsPR10a, OsPR5 and OsWRKY45 while simultaneously boosting ROS-scavenging capacity. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Si enhances rice tolerance to drought and blast disease through the coordinated modulation of ABA signaling, ROS homeostasis, and stress-related gene expression.