Interaction of silicon with cell wall components in plants: A review

Silicon (Si) is the utmost element of the earth's crust involved in various plant processes. Despite being a non-essential element of the plant, its role in plant tolerance is appreciable. The interaction of Si with the plant cell wall provides structural and mechanical strength to the plants. This review article discusses the different forms of silica (simple to complex), the nature of Si, and its interaction with plant cell wall components after being taken up by plants. Ligands of plant cell wall like hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, cellulose, callose, and mixed-linked glucans (MLG) are the possible linker, which helps the Si in crosslinking with the plant cell wall. This review also incorporates the interrelation of Si with different cell wall components, the role of Si-cell wall complexes in different stress alleviation, and enhancing stress resistance in plants. Accumulation of Si after crosslinking with the cell wall provides rigidity and stability to the plant wall and enhances mechanical strength. Many studies have been conducted on the Si role in different stress alleviation, but little knowledge is available on how plants react when Si is taken up, how Si interacts with the plant cells, how Si accumulation is enhanced by the plant itself, how the possible ligands help Si in bonding with the cell wall. This study helps to understand the relationship of cell wall components with Si and to think about the precise bonding patterns between them.