strengthening plants with silicon
There are several theories about how
silicon affects plants. First, it is believed
silicon simply makes plants tougher.
Silicon is taken up by the plant through
the roots and accumulates in the tissues. When the concentration of silicon
in plant tissue gets to a certain point,
the silicon molecules begin to bind
with one another, making crystalline
structures in the plant. The silicon
structures form around the plant’s epidermal cells, creating structures unique
to each plant species (trichomes,
sclereites, thicker leaves, etc.). These
structures do not readily break down
after the plant dies. Interestingly, many
ancient plants were silicon accumulators, so paleobotanists have used these
structures to identify from soil samples
what ancient plants were growing in an
area. In more recent times, this extra
strength in plant tissues makes it harder
for pests to eat through the plant. It has
even been shown that silicon can wear
down the ma