Beneficial Role of Soluble Silica in Enhancing Chlorophyll Content in Onion Leaves TASNEEM RANGWALA 1 *, ANGURBALA BAFNA 1 , NAGESH VYAS 2 and ROHAN GUPTA 2 1 Department of Biochemistry, Govt. Holkar Science College, Indore-452017, M.P., India. 2 Noble Alchem Pvt. Ltd.,Sanwer Road, Indore, M.P., India. Abstract Silicon which is not considered essential element, improves growth and development in onion. The present study was designed to investigate beneficial role of soluble silica in increasing chlorophyll content in onion leaves. Soluble silica under tradename Agribooster TM was used to alleviate environmental stress. Eight treatments were given at the interval of 15 days after one month of sowing in randomised block design as follows: T1- without fertilizer and soluble silica (Control), T2, T3, T4- foliar spray of soluble silica viz, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 ml/ lit respectively,T5- only fertilizer,T6, T7, T8- fertilizer + foliar spray of soluble silica viz, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 ml/ lit respectively. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid content were determined. Malondialdehyde was estimated in leaves to determine level of stress. Malondialdehyde content was found to be significantly higher in control and only fertilizer treated leaves of onion indicating stress in plants which significantly decreased level of chlorophyll a as well as chlorophyll b. This negative effect of stress in chlorophyll content was counteracted by soluble silica. Soluble silica could be used to increase chlorophyll content which will improve photosynthesis. Current Agriculture Research Journal www.agriculturejournal.org ISSN: 2347-4688, Vol. 7, No.(3) 2019, pg. 358-367 CONTACT Tasneem Rangwala tasneemdharwala@yahoo.com Department of Biochemistry, Govt. Holkar Science College, Indore-452017, M.P., India. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Enviro Research Publishers. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons license: Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY). Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.7.3.12 Article History Received: 30 May 2019 Accepted: 02 September 2019 Keywords: Agribooster TM , Carotenoid, Chlorophyll, Malondialdehyde Introduction India is agriculture- based country and is the second largest producers of onion in the world. Madhya Pradesh is one of the major onions producing States. In today’s scenario stress is a matter of concern for all living beings including plants. Sudden change in environment cause stress which affects photosynthesis. 1 Yield is dependent on rate of photosynthesis. Change in temperature and water availabilitycan decrease plant growth