copper silicon is an important element for a number of applications in the electronic, aerospace, medical, marine, petrochemical and automotive industries. Known for its low electrical resistance, Cu has also become the material of choice for high-speed 3-D chip interconnects used in microprocessors.
Effects of Si on the Uptake, Distribution and Homeostasis of Cu in Plant Toxicity (left panel: dicots; right panel: Gramineae)
The effect of Si on the uptake of Cu is complex and varies depending on the plant species, growing conditions and experimental design. However, several mechanistic models have been proposed to explain the effect of Si on Cu uptake and distribution in plants, based on differently designed experimental studies conducted on different plant species or cultivars.
Mechanisms for the Protection of Root Cells and Cu Accumulation in Plant Tissues
A protective mechanism by which Si decreases Cu toxicity is its ability to increase the concentration of PC, a copper-binding protein that reduces Cu accumulation in plant tissues and mitigates oxidative stress damage. The presence of Si enhanced the formation of a polymeric membrane that inhibits the entry of reactive Cu ions into the root cells, thereby reducing the amount of Cu available to the system (Bosnic et al., 2019b).
The beneficial effect of Si on Fe-deficiency-induced sensitivity to Cu toxicity is not fully understood. Despite the significant progress that has been made in this area, a better understanding of the mechanism of action of Si is still lacking. This is particularly true for its role in mitigating Fe toxicity, which involves the interaction between the metabolic pathways involved in the uptake of Fe and Cu.