Selenium treatment in corn seeds (Zea mays L.) as a way of mitigatin the stress induced by cadmium
Germination, Growth, Attenuation, Heavy metals.
Cadmium (Cd) is generally considered to be one of the most widespread and harmful agricultural pollutants, being easily absorbed by the plant and mainly inhibits its growth. Among the alternatives sought to solve Cd problems in plant growth is the use of attenuators such as selenium (Se) which are beneficial elements for the growth of some plants and may increase their tolerance to stress. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of selenium on seed treatment on germination and initial performance of corn seedlings under stress conditions by cadmium. Selenium-treated hybrid maize (K9606 VIP 3) seeds were used at concentrations of (0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 mg.L-1 Na2O3Se) and submitted to different cadmium dosages ( 0.0, 1.3, 3.0 and 4.5 mg.L-1 of CdCl2). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. Germination (%); the average germination time (AGT); the germination speed coefficient (GSC); the germination speed index (GSI); the length of the root; the length of the seedling; root dry mass (RDM) and shoot dry mass (SDM). The presence of Cd reduced germination speed index (GSI), root growth, seedling growth and root dry mass with increasing concentrations. In general, pretreatment with Se before exposure to Cd promoted increased root growth, seedling growth and root dry mass production, and marked mitigation of cadmium-induced growth inhibition, especially at the dose 5mg.L-1 of Na2O3Se