EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON SALT TOLERANCE IN MAIZE PLANTS

Abstract

Two pot experiments during the seasons of 2017 and 2018 were conducted to investigate the effect of Se as Na2SeO4 (2.5 and 5 µM) as foliar applications on growth, photosynthetic pigments, Na/K homeostasis and eventually the yield of maize plants grown under three different levels of salinity (0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). The results indicated that Se at 2.5 µM recorded the highest significant values in leaves and stem dry weights, total grain yield plant-1 and grain filling as indicated by the weight of 100 kernels; As well as, Chl a, Chl b and K concentrations. On contrary, there was a significant decrease in Na concentration and Na/K ratio. Additionally, carotenoids did not reveal any significant changes between Se-treated plants and the untreated ones.