Selenium Nanoparticles Improves Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Traits and Cadmium Stress Tolerance in Garden Mint using Seedling Root Dip Feeding

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
² Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology Xuhui, Shanghai, 200237, China

^* Corresponding author: qamar.zaman1@envs.uol.edu.pk

Abstract

Due to extensive global contamination of agricultural soils with cadmium (Cd), there is a dire need for cost-effective and practical methods to ensure the production of safe food. The recent introduction of micronutrients in nano form has been found to reduce the accumulation of Cd in crops. A greenhouse pot-culture experiment was done to investigate the effects of selenium nanoparticles (0, 10, 20 and 30 mgL-1) applied by seedling root dipping technique on the growth, biomass, physio-biochemical and antioxidant potential of mint grown under induced cadmium stress (25 mg kg-1of soil using CdCl2). Findings revealed that application of selenium nanoparticles considerably improved tissues biomass, photosynthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activities in the mint plants. In addition, the application of Se nanoparticles in optimal concentration improved the relative water contents (7.26%), and decreased the electrolyte leakage (32.96%) in plant tissues. Selenium nanoparticles exhibited a dose-additive effect in reducing the levels of malondialdehyde cadmium in tissues of mint plants. Selenium nanoparticles at 20 mg L-1 demonstrated more efficacy than other levels under control and Cd stressed conditions. These findings indicate that seedling root dip feeding of selenium nanoparticles is an efficient approach and could be recommended for remediation of Cd contaminated soils.