Silicon mitigates potassium deficiency by enhanced remobilization and modulated potassium transporter regulation

Silicon (Si) improves plant growth and development especially under stress conditions. Although Si alleviates suppression deficiency symptoms of several nutrient disorders, underlying regulatory processes have remained indefinite. Here, we analyzed the impact on nutritional, metabolic transcriptional responses in roots shoots barley subjected to potassium (K) deficiency. On long run, nutrition improved root shoot as well metabolite homeostasis partly reverted K signature transcriptome back adequate only fully expanded leaves but hardly roots. In short term, supply K-starved enhanced first expression vacuolar exporter KCO1 together with root-to-shoot translocation rates rubidium (Rb) that was used tracer for K. The typical response, marked by upregulation importer genes HAK1 AKT1, set a few days later then at several-fold higher levels. Lower contents Si-supplied plants indicated more efficient remobilization pools translocation, which run restored K-dependent sake continued assimilate provision These results provide sequence physiological partially recovers from indicate interferes systemic signaling alter regulation transporters.