Abstract
ABSTRACTPlant growth and crop productivity can be detrimentally affected by salinity level. The effects on plants are principally due to disruption of osmotic activity and ionic toxicity. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for many plants. The mechanism of Se-mediated salt tolerance has not been fully clarified. This study investigated the possible role of Se, applied as a soil drench or to foliage, in regulating common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) salt tolerance. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate level of Se (0, 5, or 10 μM Na2SeO3) and/or NaCl (0 or 100 mM 9.8 dS·m−1) on plant dry mass, pod number, total yield/plant, and weight of 100 seed; photosynthetic pigments; photosynthetic activity (14CO2 assimilation); enzyme activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-carboxylase/oxygenase; membrane stability index; relative water content; electrolyte leakage; ion homeostasis (N, P, K, Na+, and Cl-); activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase; and concentrations of proline and malondialdehyde. Effects on chloroplast ultrastructure in leaves were examined. Foliar Se treatment at flowering was more effective in alleviating harmful effects of salinity than drenching, and the optimum concentration was 10 μM. Exogenous Se alleviates damage related to high salt levels via improvement of photosynthetic capacity, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and regulation of Na+ homeostasis.
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