Promoting Potential Root Characteristics of Arabica Coffee at Early Seedling Stage Using Seed-Priming Nanosilicon

Abstract

The ability of a plant to recognize the features of lateral root development, especially in a temperature-sensitive plant like Coffea arabica, may be its principal strategy for enhancing root penetration to access nutrients and water. By the way, the association between silicon and the root attributes of coffee is uncertain. This study focused on the adaptation of root characteristics in coffee sprouts using nanosilicon. The root traits of Arabica coffee seeds primed with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 g L−1 nanosilicon were investigated to evaluate their role as target organs. A heat map dendrogram revealed lateral root numbers of two nanosilicon primed seeds (Si); the 6Si (6 g L−1 nanosilicon) and 10Si (10 g L−1 nanosilicon), which were distinguishable by the close-to-root characteristics of elder plants. The principal component analysis clearly categorized the potential in five root features: number of root tips, total root length, root perimeter, root surface area, and root convex area. Among the five root traits, the number of root tips in the 10Si was remarkably rich at 8.81% (p≤ 0.01), when relative to the root characteristics of elder plants. The optimal nanosilicon rate is preferred for regulating a dominating function via root tip number signaling cascades in Arabica coffee, which may aid in long-term growth. The findings should help to improve the basic knowledge on the root development strategy for healthy Arabica plantlets, resulting in quick adaptation in large-scale production.