Journal of Plant Process and Function

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial element for plant but at high concentrations, it is toxic and causes in plant growth retardation. There is limited information about the effects of Se on salinity-induced damages on wheat. Therefore this study was carried out to investigate interaction of salinity and Se on root and shoot dry matter yield, activity of GPX, and concentrations and uptake of selected micronutrients in roots and shoots of wheat. Two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestium cvs. Kavir and Back Cross-Rushan) differing in micronutrient efficiency were treated with four levels of Se (0, 20, 40 and 150 µM) and two salinity levels (0 and 100 mM NaCl). The effect of application of different Se concentrations on the shoot dry matter yield of wheat varied upon crop cultivar and salinity level. Application of Se at 20 µM concentration resulted in increase of shoot dry matter weight of ‘Back Cross-Rushan’ under salinity conditions. Selenium at 40 µM level increased shoot dry matter yield of Kavir cultivar at non-saline conditions. The effect of Se on activity of GPX was dependent on the wheat cultivar and Se level. In general, activity of GPX in roots of both wheat cultivars exposed to salinity stress was increased by application of 20 and 40 µM Se. Also, at saline conditions, application of 20 µM Se increased activity of GPX in shoots of both wheat cultivars. According to the results obtained from the present study, Se nutrition had positive effects on dry matter yield of wheat especially in salinity condition, but this effect depended on crop cultivar and applied Se concentration.