Effect of phytoliths for mitigating water stress in durum wheat

What is it about?

We show that under water stress in the presence of Si, accumulation of phytoliths over the veins provides better support to the leaf, thus allowing for a better development than in the absence of Si. The silicified trichomes, which are useless for support, accumulate the excess Si once the epidermal cells above the veins are filled and therefore, is not an adaptation to water stress.

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