The effect of selenium (nano and bulk) on the absorption pattern of elements and growth indices of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Dash variety

Qasemi, Mohammad; Shamili, Mansoore; Mirzaalian Dastjerdi, Abdolmajid

doi:10.22034/iuvs.2024.2037058.1380

The effect of selenium (nano and bulk) on the absorption pattern of elements and growth indices of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Dash variety

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Qasemi ¹

Mansoore Shamili ²

Abdolmajid Mirzaalian Dastjerdi ²

¹ MSc graduated, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

² Associate professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

10.22034/iuvs.2024.2037058.1380

Abstract

1.      Introduction: Selenium is one of the essential food elements for humans and animals. Seleno-proteins participate in antioxidant defense systems and the regulation of oxidation in mammals, and their deficiency leads to immune system dysfunction. Selenium concentration in soils has been deemed insufficient, and as a result, according to estimates, 15-20% of children and adults worldwide suffer from selenium deficiency. Plants, which are the primary source of selenium for humans and animals, absorb the element from the soil and enter the food chain. Nanotechnology is a promising field of bioengineering. Selenium nanoparticles have been introduced as stable nanoparticles as fertilizers in agriculture. Foliar spraying of plants with nano-selenium has been associated with the improvement of antioxidant defense mechanisms, photosynthetic indices, and secondary metabolites. Spinach, an annual and long-day plant, is one of the important leafy vegetables of the cold season. Fresh spinach contains sugars, lecithin, secretin, chlorophyll, carotene, saponins, phenolic compounds, caffeic acid, ortho-coumaric acid, para-coumaric acid, myristicin, and oxalates. Since selenium is one of the useful elements in plants (including spinach) and due to the toxic effects of this element in high concentrations, in this research, the effects of selenium (in both bulk and nano forms) were considered on spinach plants. This research aims to compare foliar spraying with nano-selenium (5, 10 and 20 ppm) and sodium selenate (5, 10 and 20 mg/liter) on growth indices (leaf and root dry matter, root length and plant height, leaf number) and elements content (including nitrogen, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, sodium, calcium, zinc, selenium and iron) in spinach.

2.      Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. The factors were included: foliar spraying of nano selenium (5, 10, and 20 ppm), sodium selenate (5, 10, and 20 mg/L), and distilled water (control). Spinach Dash seedlings cultivated in the greenhouse were treated at the vegetative growth stage. At the end, the growth indices (including leaf and root dry matter, root length and plant height, leaf number) and macro and micronutrient content (including N, P, Mn, Mg, Na, Ca, Zn, Se, and Fe) were evaluated. The normality of the data was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk method. Tukey's test was performed to compare the means (P < 0.01, 0.05). Statistical analysis of data was done with SAS Ver.9.4 software. Also, the pictures were drawn using EXCEL 2016 Software.

3.      Results and Discussion: Based on findings, with increasing the levels of treatments, the root and shoot length, leaf and root dry matter, and leaf number showed an improving trend. In addition, P, Fe, Zn, and Se contents were also enhanced by increasing the levels of the two treatments. In contrast, increasing the concentration of treatments led to a decline in Na and Mn contents. Mg also decreased under the highest level of both treatments; However, at the medium level (10 mg/L sodium selenate and 10 ppm nano-selenium), an increase in its content was observed. The responses of N and Ca were different to selenium compounds. On the other hand, under 5 ppm of nano-selenium, leaf N reached the highest value; nevertheless, with the enhancement of nano-selenium concentrations, N content decreased. An increase and a decrease of N were observed under 10 and 20 mg/L of sodium selenate, respectively. A similar trend was also recorded for Ca under 10 and 20 ppm nano-selenium. In contrast, increasing the levels of sodium selenate up to 20 mg/L boosted the calcium content of leaves.

4.      Conclusion: Based on the results obtained from the present research, sodium selenate at suitable levels can improve some growth traits of spinach. The best concentration to enhance root length was the highest level of sodium selenate (20 mg L^-1). Nevertheless, reduced Mn content occurred under the same treatment. The results also indicated the positive role of nano selenium on growth characteristics and some macro and micro elements of spinach. The highest level of nano selenium (20 ppm) enhanced P, Fe, and Se content. This treatment also decreased the content of Ca, Mg, Na, and the accumulation of nitrate in the leaves of spinach. As the application of the lowest level of nano selenium caused the more accumulation of nitrate. However, the positive impact of a moderate level of nano selenium (10 ppm) was stronger on leaf number, root dry matter, Mg, and Zn contents. Overall, since the different levels of the applied treatments illustrated different effects on growth indices and the contents of macro and micro elements, selecting the selenium type (bulk or nano) as well as its required level, can be conducted based on the purpose of the experiment, and result in desired results.

Keywords

Spinach

Morphological Characteristics

Macro and Micro Elements

Nano Selenium

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