CNRG is thrilled to congratulate Alex Saravia, a graduating senior majoring in Biotechnology, for earning First Place in his final undergraduate research presentation competition.

Alex’s project explored the potential of silicon, delivered as silicic acid, to improve plant growth, water and nutrient uptake, and drought resilience across a variety of genotypes.

Key takeaways from his findings:

• Lettuce stood out the most, despite being a low silicon accumulator, it had the highest chlorophyll retention and growth under drought, and the best soil stability in silicate-treated groups.

• 8 out of 10 genotypes improved with silicon under drought conditions.

• Silicon consistently boosted shoot growth across most plants, with some also showing increases in root biomass, especially in sorghum and okra.

• Some crops, like corn and watermelon, didn’t respond as well, possibly due to poor silicon absorption, pointing to future genetic and biochemical investigations.

Alex concluded that silicon holds great promise as an affordable and effective strategy for enhancing crop resilience and soil conditions under environmental stress, signaling a valuable avenue for further agricultural innovation. We’re incredibly proud of Alex’s achievement and the potential impact of his research. This award is a testament to his hard work, scientific insight, and dedication to addressing real-world challenges through plant science.

Congratulations, Alex! We can’t wait to see what you do next.

- Briana Salinas