Effect of silicon on calcium, proline, growth rate and salt stress of narrow-leaved cattails in synthetic reactive dye wastewater.

Narrow-leaved cattails (Typha angustifolia L.) show higher efficiency in the removal of colour and reduction of pH, TDS, and conductivity from synthetic reactive red dye wastewater (Rw) when silicon is added to the wastewater. The efficiency of the colour removal was increased from 86% within 12 days to 93% within 9 days with the addition of silicon. Furthermore, the TDS was also decreased when adding silicon in the wastewater. In addition, calcium and proline accumulation in the plant leaf increased in response to increasing Rw concentrations in the absence of added silicon. Higher salinity was also observed with increasing Rw concentrations. Plants attempt to balance their water potential by secreting proline as an osmotic adjustment. But both calcium and proline levels decreased when silicon was added to the wastewater. This result implies that the plant uses silicon as primary element for responsibility under salt stress condition by increasing growth of plant. In addition, silicon can be used instead of calcium, resulting in decreased proline and calcium production in the plant.