Sucrose plays key role in amelioration of arsenic induced phytotoxicity through modulating phosphate and silicon transporters, physiological and biochemical responses in C3 (Oryza sativa L.) and C4 (Zea mays L.)

•Sucrose suppressed the silicon and upregulated iP transporters in C3 and C4 plants•Sucrose reduced iAs accumulation in C3 under –iP, contrarily to C4 under + iP•Sucrose is more efficient in stress recovery of C3 than C4 seedlings•Higher recovery of growth and physiological response in C3 than C4 with sucrose + iP•Sucrose increased thiolic compound and antioxidants enzymes activity against iAs