Evaluating Pre-silicon Treatment to Alleviate Drought Stress and Increases Antioxidative Activity in Zoysia japonica

This study was performed to determine the effects of silicon on zoysiagrass after the application of drought stress. The daily amount of water or scilicon solution was 150 ml per a pot. For 14 days, plants were treated with 0.1 and 1.0 mM silicon (Si) and with distilled water for control and the drought only-treatment. Afterward, the plants in Si and drought treatment were exposed to a 21-day under drought stress condition but the plants in control received water. The results indicated that the growth and the moisture and chlorophyll contents decreased in the drought only-treatment and 0.1 mM Si compared to the control. However, 1.0 mM Si showed an increase in the growth with a significant increase of water and chlorophyll contents. The MDA and $H_2O_2$ concentrations and electrolyte leakage decreased, while the radical scavenging capacity increased in 1.0 mM Si. 1.0 mM Si showed little to no differences in the growth and no differences in water and chlorophyll contents, electrolyte leakage, MDA and $H_2O_2$ concentrations and antioxidant capacity compared to the control. These results suggested that application of silicon is useful for drought tolerance improvement of zoysiagrass under drought that is occurring in turf fields.