Methods for Analyzing Silica Induced Effects: Trichome Structure and Leaf Desiccation Rate

Two techniques were tested to determine if they would be suitable for detecting differences between plants grown with or without silica. Soybean (Glycine max) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves were inspected using microscopes to look for structural differences on trichomes and leaf surfaces. Wheat leaves were weighed over time to determine the leaf desiccation rate, which was then compared across silica and salt treatments. The microscope observations showed that silica enhanced soybean plants have much more pronounced trichomes than control plants. Wheat leaves also showed slight differences in visible leaf structure. The observed leaf desiccation rates suggest that wheat grown with silica has enhanced salt tolerance.