Analysis of Silicon Transporters in Turfgrass Species.

Silicon is an abundant element on earth and is also known to be beneficial as an amendment in some crops such as rice. Despite its abundance in many soils, accumulation of silicon in plants is species-specific and can be widely different. It has been shown that the genes responsible for silicon uptake from soil into plants are important for silicon accumulation and the degree of accumulated silicon is related to the degree of resistance to the biotic and abiotic stresses. Those silicon transporters called lsi genes were identified in several plant species by sequence homology since the first silicon transporter (lsi1) was described in higher plant species. In this study, we are interested in the role of plant silicon transporters in turfgrasses. Turfgrasses represent a plant system with significant economic impact worldwide and serve as a useful system to study tolerance to environmental stress, both abiotic and biotic. Although the positive effects of silicon have been recognized in some crops, it needs more attention in relation to disease resistance and accompanying mechanisms in turfgrass research. We will discuss the characteristics of silicon transporters and their potential roles in turfgrasses toward future research directions.