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Abstract

Abstract There is increasing evidence showing that low selenium (Se) concentrations may increase tolerance of crop plants to several environmental stresses. The aim of this study was to compare the influence of two chemical forms of Se (selenite or selenate) at different concentrations (2 or 6 μM) on the resistance of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) cv. Justyna to NaCl-induced stress (40 mM NaCl). Plant growth was negatively affected by salinity, but the level of photosynthetic pigments was not reduced. Se application at a concentration of 2 μM significantly improved the growth of salt-stressed plants, but selenite was much more effective than selenate in enhancing salt-tolerance of lettuce. The growth-promoting effect of Se was also noted at 6 μM of selenite, but did not appear at 6 μM of selenate. The beneficial effect of Se in salt-stressed lettuce could be due to antioxidative activity of Se, root system growth stimulation, and/or increase in photosynthetic pigment concentration after Se supplementation; however, it was not related to either increase in proline accumulation or reduction in foliar Na+ or Cl− concentration. These results imply that Se application, especially in the form of selenite, can enhance antioxidant defense of lettuce under salt stress, and Se supplementation may be recommended for areas of lettuce cultivation with excessive salt accumulation.
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Authors and Affiliations

Barbara Hawrylak-Nowak
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Abstract

Abstract In recent years there has been growing interest in selenium (Se) as an important micronutrient not only for animals and humans but also for plants. In particular, its protective effect in plants exposed to stress conditions has been suggested. In spite of many studies, the mechanism of Se action is not fully understood. In this review, possible ways of interaction of Se with stress factors leading to optimal growth and development of plants are presented. As the majority of experiments have focused on the effects of Se application under stress conditions induced by heavy metals, special attention is paid to the results obtained in such studies. Changes of physiological and biochemical properties of plant cells, with particular regard to the influence of Se on the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants under this stress, are summarized. Experiments in which Se was used in some other environmental stresses (drought, UV, cold and high temperature) are also cited. On the basis of the presented literature it is suggested that a positive effect of Se depends on both its doses and on chosen plant genotypes and is mainly connected with activation of antioxidative defense in plant cells.
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Authors and Affiliations

Apolonia Sieprawska
Andrzej Kornaś
Maria Filek

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