Increasing nutrient elements absorption and photosynthetic pigments by silicon spray in New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) in soilless conditions

Silicon as a beneficialelement has several effects on growth, yield, abiotic stresses tolerance and nutrient element balance in plants. For this purpose, an experiment established in Complete Randomized Design with four levels of silicon foliar spray (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg.L-1) with three replications (each replication contained five 0.7 liter pots) on Impatiens hawkeri in greenhouse conditions during 2 months in summer 2015. Different traits such as nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and leaf silicon content, anthocyanin, a, b and total chlorophyll contents were measured. Results showed that the most N (2.8%), P (0.41 %) and K (2.68 %) contents were related to 40 mg.L-1 of silicon treatment. However, the most Ca (3.75 %) and Mg (1.81 %) contents obtained in 80 mg.L-1 silicon treatment, but the most Si content (15.6 mg/kgfw) obtained in 120 mg.L-1 treatment. Total chlorophyll (20.76 mg/kgfw) and petal anthocyanin content (32.1 mg/kgfw) was the highest in 120 mg.L-1 Si treatment. Generally, Si can be suggested as a beneficial element (120 mg.L-1 ) for New Guinea Impateins.