Sodium selenite treatment of vegetable seeds and seedlings and the effect on antioxidant status
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Selenium treatment of plants improves the response to stress and increases their edible contents.The aim of this study was to treat the seeds and seedlings of tomato, lettuce and melon with selenium to verify the effects on growth, antioxidant status, and vitamin C concentration in the photosynthetic tissues of seedlings.The experiment consisted of two phases: in the first phase, selenium was applied at concentrations of 0, 0.1 and 1 mg L -1 using immersion pre-treatment of the seeds, and fresh and dry weight, leaf area, oxidationreduction potential (ORP) and concentration of vitamin C were then determined in seedling leaves.In the second phase, selenium was applied to the seedlings at concentrations of 0 and 2 mg L -1 in the nutrient solution and at concentrations of 0 and 5 mg L -1 in a foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after seeding, and the same response variables were measured.Both types of selenium applications were shown to positively affect the antioxidant status and the vitamin C concentration of the three vegetables.Therefore, selenium applied to the seeds positively changes the antioxidant status and the concentration of vitamin C in the three crops.Additionally, selenium significantly modified melon growth.The application of selenium by irrigation and leaf spraying in seedlings significantly improved the antioxidant status and the vitamin C concentration in the three species, with only minor changes in biomass and leaf area.
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2343733339