TY - JOUR T1 - Protective Action of Silicon on Water Relations and Photosynthetic Pigments in Pepper Plants Induced to Water Deficit AU - , A.K.S. Lobato AU - , G.K. Coimbra AU - , M.A.M. Neto AU - , R.C.L. Costa AU - , B.G. Santos Filho AU - , C.F. Oliveira Neto AU - , L.M. Luz AU - , A.G.T. Barreto AU - , B.W.F. Pereira AU - , G.A.R. Alves AU - , B.S. Monteiro AU - , C.A. Marochio JO - Research Journal of Biological Sciences VL - 4 IS - 5 SP - 617 EP - 623 PY - 2009 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1815-8846 DO - rjbsci.2009.617.623 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2009.617.623 KW - Capsicum annuum L. KW -silicon KW -abiotic stress KW -water restriction KW -pepper plants AB - The aim of the study was to investigate the responses promoted by the external application of silicon on water relations and photosynthetic pigments in Capsicum annuum L. plants submitted to water deficiency. The experimental design used was entirely randomized, with 5 treatments (stress, 0.25 μM Si, 1.00 μM Si, 1.75 μM Si and control). The stomatal conductance was significantly influenced by the silicon, in which it were showed the values of 3.4, 16.4, 16.1, 13.7 and 24.3 mmol/m2/sec in stress, 0.25 μM Si, 1.00 μM Si, 1.75 μM Si and control treatments, respectively. The chlorophyll a level in stress, 0.25 μM Si, 1.00 μM Si, 1.75 μM Si and control treatments presented 4.07, 7.29, 8.04, 7.47 and 8.12 mg g-1 FM, respectively. The results indicated that the silicon increased the tolerance to water deficit, in which the leaf relative water content, transpiration, stomatal conductance, chlorophylls a and b, as well as carotenoids were maintenanced in higher levels, if compared with stress plants. In addition, the ratio chlorophylls a/b under the 1.00 μM Si was to improve that control treatment. ER -