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Pak. J. Bot., 48(3): 953-961, 2016.

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MITIGATION OF CADMIUM INDUCED STRESS IN TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) BY SELENIUM

ABD_ALLAH E. F.^1*; HASHEM ABEER^2,3 AND ALQARAWI A. A.¹

Abstract: Pot experiments were performed to assess the role of selenium in growth regulation of Solanum lycopersicum and its ameliorative role under cadmium stress. Cadmium (200 μM CdCl₂) treatment reduced growth considerably and application of selenium (1.2μmol/L) improved growth and also mitigated the deleterious effects of cadmium. Selenium increased chlorophyll and carotenoid which were however reduced by cadmium stress. Cadmium treated plants showed higher lipid peroxidation and selenium caused improvement in membrane stability by reducing the production of hydrogen peroxide. Activities of antioxidant enzymes assayed increased with selenium treatment providing stability to cellular structures by quick removal of reactive free radicals. GSH and AsA were increased by 14.2% and 21.07% due to selenium application, however along with cadmium, it caused an increase of 40.5% and 45.7% respectively. Proline and phenol content increased with selenium providing osmotic stability to S. lycopersicum for cadmium tolerance. Moreover, selenium treatment declined the uptake of cadmium significantly.

Key words: Tomato, Cadmium, Antioxidants, Proline, Phenols, Lipid peroxidation, Selenium.
 

¹Plant Production Department, Collage of Food & Agri. Sci., P.O. Box. 2460 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

²Bot. & Microbiol. Dept., Collage of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi. Arabia

³Mycology & Plant Dis. Survey Dept., Plant Pathology Res. Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt

^*Corresponding author e-mail: eabdallah@ksu.edu.sa