Advances in Potassium Silicate-Induced Drought Tolerance in Tropical Tree Seedlings: Effects on Morphological Traits, Physiological Responses, and Biochemical Regulation

Water stress is among the most important abiotic constraints affecting forest ecosystem functioning and regeneration, a phenomenon expected to intensify with climate change. It impacts photosynthesis, growth, and seedling survival, therefore threatening biodiversity and accelerating forest degradation. The use of silicon-based biostimulants has emerged as a way of mitigating the effects of water stress by improving water status and stimulating mechanical and biochemical defense. However, its effectiveness on forest tree species remains poorly explored. This study examines how potassium silicate (PS) alleviates the effects of drought on Canarium madagascariense, with the aim of improving our understanding of the resilience mechanisms of tropical forest species. To do this, an experiment with 135 two-year-old C. madagascariense saplings has been conducted, testing three irrigation levels in combination with the addition of potassium silicate (PS) at concentrations of 5 and 10 mM, via foliar spraying and soil application. Morphometric and physiological parameters were monitored, followed by the biochemical profiling of the induced responses. Linear mixed models were computed to assess the effects of the different factors on the different growth performance, physiological functioning parameters over time, and ANOVA was used for evaluating the punctual data on the biochemical compounds. Drought had a significant impact on the morphological and physiological behaviour of the seedlings. However, the application of PS modified the drought-induced changes, even at a low concentration of 5 mM. Biochemical defenses were also improved further with PS application. Hormone profiling revealed a predominance of auxins, while abscisic acid was lower in the water stress treatments under drought. Therefore, using PS could support the production of robust seedlings that are more tolerant of, and adaptive to, the challenges of climate change, making restoration more efficient.