title: Effect of selenium foliar spray on physiological and biochemical processes and chemical constituents of wheat under drought stress.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is considered an essential micronutrient for humans, animals and plants due to its physiological and antioxidative properties. The positive role of Se in attenuation of drastic effects of various environmental stresses in plants is, however, still unclear and need to be explored. The present study aimed at investigating the physiological and biochemical changes induced by Se foliar spray to improve the drought tolerance potential of wheat. Additionally, we also examined the effect of supplemental Se on uptake of nutrients using detection by ICP-OES. Foliar Se application significantly lowered osmotic potential (13%) that markedly improved turgor by 63%, enhanced transpiration rate (60%), improved accumulation of total soluble sugars (33%) and free amino acids (118%) and activity of antioxidant system which ultimately increased the grain yield by 24%. Supplemental Se also significantly increased Se contents (5.77µgg(-1)DW) and improved Fe (91%) and Na (16%) uptake, whereas it reduced Zn accumulation by 54% and did not affect Ca contents. The results supported our hypothesis that supplemental Se influences nutrients uptake and wheat yield through maintenance of turgor and gas exchange characteristics and enhancement in antioxidant system activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: fahim5382@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Waraich
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D018533:Biomass; D055864:Droughts; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients; D064587:Osmoregulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D014867:Water; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Antioxidants; Drought stress; Foliar spray; Nutrients contents; Se; Wheat