Silicon alleviates cadmium stress by improving growth, physiological performance, and cellular integrity in broccoli

), plant height (44 cm), root length (20.63 cm) and shoot biomass compared with Cd-stressed plants without Si application. Additionally, Si application increased both fresh and dry biomass, indicating improved growth under Cd stress. Anatomical observations further revealed that Si supplementation mitigated Cd-induced cellular damage by maintaining better cellular organization and larger cell areas in root, stem, and leaf tissues, including the epidermis, cortex, phloem, and xylem. Overall, the results demonstrate that silicon plays a significant role in enhancing Cd stress tolerance in broccoli by improving morpho-physiological performance and cellular integrity. These findings suggest that Si supplementation could serve as an environmentally friendly strategy to reduce Cd toxicity and support sustainable crop production in contaminated soils.