Potassium silicate and light availability affect photochemical efficiency and morphology of Alibertia edulis

Light stress damages the photochemical apparatus and affects seedling growth of forest species. Using potassium silicate (K₂SiO₃) can mitigate these deleterious effects and contribute to the acclimatization and robustness of seedlings. This study evaluated the effect of K₂SiO₃ and shading levels on the photochemical and growth of Alibertia edulis (Rich) A. Rich seedlings. The experiment was arranged under three light conditions based on shading levels of 0 % (full sun), 30 %, and 70 %. Four doses of K2SiO3 applied through foliar spray were tested: 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mL L^–1. Cultivation under full sun and under 70 % of shade was stressful for A. edulis, while cultivation under 30 % of shade improved plant growth. Increasing application of K₂SiO₃ in seedlings under full sun damaged the reaction center, causing lower photochemical yields, but increased the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II under 30 % of shade. Using K₂SiO₃ contributed to leaf water regulation while applying 10.0 mL L^–1 increased chlorophyll indices, leaf area, physiological indices, and the quality of seedlings cultivated under full sun and 30 % of shade. Using 10.0 mL L^–1 K₂SiO₃ mitigated the negative effects of light stress under full sun. It provided high photochemical efficiency, morphology aspects, and Dickson quality index A. edulis seedlings in environments with high or moderate light availability.

Chlorophyll-a fluorescence; K₂SiO₃; photosystem II; seedling quality; shading