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The present study aimed to prove the efficiency of Se or Si as relievers of the Cd toxicity in potato plants. Solanum tuberosum plants, Asterix genotype, from in vitro propagation were placed in pots with sand and irrigated with complete nutrient solution for 60 days under six treatments: T1: Control (nutrient solution); T2: 2.5 µM Se; T3: 2.5 mM Si; T4: 50 µM Cd; T5: 50 µM Cd + 2.5 µM Se; T6: 50µM Cd + 2.5 mM Si. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design, with four replicates for each treatment and six plants per replicate. The plants were collected at 30 and 60 days after application of the treatments. Cadmium was highly toxic in all parameters (dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, root and photosynthetic parameters), in both assessments. However, Se and Si were effective in mitigating Cd toxicity in all parameters, although Si has been shown to be more efficient than Se in dry weight and plant height parameters. Thus, from data obtained in this study, it is clear that the beneficial elements tested have power to ameliorate Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to verify the beneficial potential of Silicon on the growth of potato genotypes in order to select potato genotypes that best respond to Si application. Four potato genotypes were used: SMIJ319-7, Dakota Rose, SMIF212-3 and SMINIA793101, grown in hydroponic system. The plants were transferred to nutrient solutions with four Si concentrations: 0; 0.5; 2.5; and 5.0 mM as NaSiO3. After seven days of exposure to treatments, leaf area, leaf number, shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of roots, stem and leaves were determined. The application of 0.5 mM Si promoted an increase in growth parameters of plants used in this work, mainly in leaf area, leaf number, and leaf and stem dry weight. However, the application of higher concentrations of Si (2.5 mM) promoted reduction in the growth parameters, mainly in leaf area. It was also possible to observe a genotypic variation with respect to Si, SMIJ319-7 and SMIF212-3 genotypes being the most responsive to Si. Therefore, the concentration of 0.5 mM Si is considered optimal for potentiating the growth of potato plants, and SMIJ319-7 and SMIF212-3 genotypes are the most responsive to Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]