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Convergent evidence for the temperature-dependent emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants

Author

Listed:
  • Zhihao Pang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Félix Tombeur

    (IRD
    The University of Western Australia)

  • Sue E. Hartley

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Constantin M. Zohner

    (ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology))

  • Miroslav Nikolic

    (University of Belgrade)

  • Cyrille Violle

    (IRD)

  • Lidong Mo

    (ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology))

  • Thomas W. Crowther

    (ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology))

  • Dong-Xing Guan

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Zhongkui Luo

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Yong-Guan Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuxiao Wang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Ping Zhang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Hongyun Peng

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Caroline A. E. Strömberg

    (University of Washington)

  • Nina Nikolic

    (University of Belgrade)

  • Yongchao Liang

    (Zhejiang University)

Abstract

Research on silicon (Si) biogeochemistry and its beneficial effects for plants has received significant attention over several decades, but the reasons for the emergence of high-Si plants remain unclear. Here, we combine experimentation, field studies and analysis of existing databases to test the role of temperature on the expression and emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants. We first show that Si is beneficial for rice under high temperature (40 °C), but harmful under low temperature (0 °C), whilst a 2 °C increase results in a 37% increase in leaf Si concentrations. We then find that, globally, the average distribution temperature of high-Si plant clades is 1.2 °C higher than that of low-Si clades. Across China, leaf Si concentrations increase with temperature in high-Si plants (wheat and rice), but not in low-Si plants (weeping willow and winter jasmine). From an evolutionary perspective, 77% of high-Si families (>10 mg Si g−1 DW) originate during warming episodes, while 86% of low-Si families (

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihao Pang & Félix Tombeur & Sue E. Hartley & Constantin M. Zohner & Miroslav Nikolic & Cyrille Violle & Lidong Mo & Thomas W. Crowther & Dong-Xing Guan & Zhongkui Luo & Yong-Guan Zhu & Yuxiao Wang &, 2025. "Convergent evidence for the temperature-dependent emergence of silicification in terrestrial plants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56438-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56438-0
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