Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions
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Yasouj University
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Abstract
In the present study, the effects of varying levels of nickel and selenium on certain growth and biochemical characteristics of canola were investigated under hydroponic conditions using a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with four replications. The first factor involved applying nickel to the nutrient solution at three levels (0, 10, and 50 μM) using nickel sulfate as the source. The second factor consisted of selenium application in two forms: (1) selenium added to the nutrient solution as selenate at three levels (0, 10, and 20 μM) from sodium selenate, and (2) foliar spraying of nano selenium at three levels (0, 2, and 5 ppm). The results indicated that exposure to 10 μM nickel did not cause any significant changes in the measured indicators compared to the control group. However, treatment with 50 μM nickel led to an increase in nickel accumulation in both the roots and shoots, while it resulted in a reduction in the other traits examined. Alongside elevated nickel levels, root potassium content also rose. The application of 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium generally moderated nickel toxicity effects. These treatments enhanced root and shoot dry weight compared to the control group by increasing soluble sugar levels in leaves, boosting potassium retention in roots, reducing electrolyte leakage percentage, and elevating chlorophyll content. This study demonstrates that selenium enhances canola growth under nickel stress by increasing leaf soluble sugar and potassium levels. Finally, the application of 10 μM selenium in the nutrient solution or foliar spraying with 2 ppm nano selenium is recommended for canola cultivation under nickel stress conditions.
Keywords: Biochemical index, Heavy metal, Nano selenium, Soluble sugars
Background and Objective: Today, the rise in environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals such as nickel, lead, cadmium, and arsenic, poses a significant global threat by contaminating agricultural soils. Nickel, while essential for plant metabolism, becomes toxic at elevated concentrations in the growth medium, causing damage to plants by inhibiting growth, disrupting physiological functions, and inducing oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (Pandey and Sharma, 2002). High nickel levels impair photosynthesis, water content, and enzymatic activities in many plant species. Recently, foliar application of substances such as selenium has gained attention for mitigating heavy metal toxicity and enhancing plant tolerance. Selenium helps maintain intracellular water balance by strengthening osmolytes, repairing cell membranes, influencing photosynthetic complexes, and delaying flower senescence (Ishaq et al., 2023). Nano selenium, in particular, is notable for its high bioavailability and biological activity, boosting antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, which improves antioxidant capacity and promotes growth and yield in plants (Hosnedlova et al., 2018). This study aims to examine the effects of varying selenium levels on the growth and physiological parameters of canola under nickel stress.
Methods: This research was conducted using a completely randomized design with four replications, employing pot cultivation in a perlite medium. The experimental setup included two factors: the first factor was nickel, applied at three levels using nickel sulfate (NiSO4) as the source; the second factor was selenium, applied in two forms-selenate and nano selenium-each at three levels. Selenate was sourced from sodium selenite (Na2SeO4). Spring canola seeds were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite solution and then sown in perlite. Nickel sulfate treatments began at the six-leaf stage and continued for four weeks. Selenium in the form of selenate was added to the Hoagland nutrient solution, while nano selenium was applied as a foliar spray. The first nano selenium foliar application occurred during the first week of nickel stress and was repeated three weeks later. After four weeks of nickel stress and selenium treatments, including nano selenium foliar sprays, the plants were harvested. Subsequently, various physiological, biochemical, and growth parameters were measured.
Results: The results showed that increasing nickel levels generally led to a decrease in the studied traits, except for the nickel content in roots and shoots, which increased. The application of 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium was able to partially mitigate the effects of nickel stress. Specifically, as nickel levels rose, the nickel concentration in both roots and shoots increased; however, the presence of selenium and nano selenium somewhat reduced the uptake and accumulation of nickel in the shoots under high stress conditions. Nickel stress caused a decline in the leaf chlorophyll index and relative leaf water content of canola, while it increased electrolyte leakage and soluble sugar content in the shoots. Conversely, treatments with selenium and nano selenium enhanced the leaf chlorophyll index, relative water content, and soluble sugar content in the leaves. Additionally, nickel stress reduced both root and shoot length, but the application of selenium and nano selenium improved these growth parameters.
Conclusions: In general, treatment with 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium had the most significant positive impact on improving physiological and morphological traits compared to other concentrations. Additionally, these treatments exhibited a moderating effect on nickel toxicity. Therefore, applying selenium and nano selenium in the growth environment of canola can help mitigate the toxic effects of nickel stress.
In the present study, the effects of varying levels of nickel and selenium on certain growth and biochemical characteristics of canola were investigated under hydroponic conditions using a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with four replications. The first factor involved applying nickel to the nutrient solution at three levels (0, 10, and 50 μM) using nickel sulfate as the source. The second factor consisted of selenium application in two forms: (1) selenium added to the nutrient solution as selenate at three levels (0, 10, and 20 μM) from sodium selenate, and (2) foliar spraying of nano selenium at three levels (0, 2, and 5 ppm). The results indicated that exposure to 10 μM nickel did not cause any significant changes in the measured indicators compared to the control group. However, treatment with 50 μM nickel led to an increase in nickel accumulation in both the roots and shoots, while it resulted in a reduction in the other traits examined. Alongside elevated nickel levels, root potassium content also rose. The application of 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium generally moderated nickel toxicity effects. These treatments enhanced root and shoot dry weight compared to the control group by increasing soluble sugar levels in leaves, boosting potassium retention in roots, reducing electrolyte leakage percentage, and elevating chlorophyll content. This study demonstrates that selenium enhances canola growth under nickel stress by increasing leaf soluble sugar and potassium levels. Finally, the application of 10 μM selenium in the nutrient solution or foliar spraying with 2 ppm nano selenium is recommended for canola cultivation under nickel stress conditions.
Keywords: Biochemical index, Heavy metal, Nano selenium, Soluble sugars
Background and Objective: Today, the rise in environmental pollutants, particularly heavy metals such as nickel, lead, cadmium, and arsenic, poses a significant global threat by contaminating agricultural soils. Nickel, while essential for plant metabolism, becomes toxic at elevated concentrations in the growth medium, causing damage to plants by inhibiting growth, disrupting physiological functions, and inducing oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (Pandey and Sharma, 2002). High nickel levels impair photosynthesis, water content, and enzymatic activities in many plant species. Recently, foliar application of substances such as selenium has gained attention for mitigating heavy metal toxicity and enhancing plant tolerance. Selenium helps maintain intracellular water balance by strengthening osmolytes, repairing cell membranes, influencing photosynthetic complexes, and delaying flower senescence (Ishaq et al., 2023). Nano selenium, in particular, is notable for its high bioavailability and biological activity, boosting antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, which improves antioxidant capacity and promotes growth and yield in plants (Hosnedlova et al., 2018). This study aims to examine the effects of varying selenium levels on the growth and physiological parameters of canola under nickel stress.
Methods: This research was conducted using a completely randomized design with four replications, employing pot cultivation in a perlite medium. The experimental setup included two factors: the first factor was nickel, applied at three levels using nickel sulfate (NiSO4) as the source; the second factor was selenium, applied in two forms-selenate and nano selenium-each at three levels. Selenate was sourced from sodium selenite (Na2SeO4). Spring canola seeds were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite solution and then sown in perlite. Nickel sulfate treatments began at the six-leaf stage and continued for four weeks. Selenium in the form of selenate was added to the Hoagland nutrient solution, while nano selenium was applied as a foliar spray. The first nano selenium foliar application occurred during the first week of nickel stress and was repeated three weeks later. After four weeks of nickel stress and selenium treatments, including nano selenium foliar sprays, the plants were harvested. Subsequently, various physiological, biochemical, and growth parameters were measured.
Results: The results showed that increasing nickel levels generally led to a decrease in the studied traits, except for the nickel content in roots and shoots, which increased. The application of 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium was able to partially mitigate the effects of nickel stress. Specifically, as nickel levels rose, the nickel concentration in both roots and shoots increased; however, the presence of selenium and nano selenium somewhat reduced the uptake and accumulation of nickel in the shoots under high stress conditions. Nickel stress caused a decline in the leaf chlorophyll index and relative leaf water content of canola, while it increased electrolyte leakage and soluble sugar content in the shoots. Conversely, treatments with selenium and nano selenium enhanced the leaf chlorophyll index, relative water content, and soluble sugar content in the leaves. Additionally, nickel stress reduced both root and shoot length, but the application of selenium and nano selenium improved these growth parameters.
Conclusions: In general, treatment with 10 μM selenium and 2 ppm nano selenium had the most significant positive impact on improving physiological and morphological traits compared to other concentrations. Additionally, these treatments exhibited a moderating effect on nickel toxicity. Therefore, applying selenium and nano selenium in the growth environment of canola can help mitigate the toxic effects of nickel stress.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Plant growth under stressful conditions
Received: 2025/05/5 | Accepted: 2025/06/29
Received: 2025/05/5 | Accepted: 2025/06/29
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Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions by http://jspi.iut.ac.ir is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes from the material, as long as the author of the original work is cited properly.
