Effects of selenium on leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics of eggplant

• Published in: Functional plant biology : FPB Vol. 52; no. 3
• Main Authors: Zhang, Lu, Zhao, Xiawei, Wang, Yan, Ma, Xinyu, Li, Haolin, Zhao, Chengzhang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 25.02.2025
• Subjects: Photosynthesis - drug effects; Plant Leaves - anatomy & histology; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - physiology; Selenium - pharmacology; Solanum melongena - drug effects; Solanum melongena - physiology
• ISSN: 1445-4408; 1445-4416; 1445-4416
• DOI: 10.1071/FP24292

The response of leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics to selenium (Se) application reflects plant adaptation strategies for selenium-enhanced accumulation of photosynthetic products. This study selected eggplant as the research subject and conducted a field experiment to better understand these relationships. This study included three Se treatments, foliar sprays of 0.5 mg L−1 (T1), 1 mg L−1 (T2), and 1.5 mg L−1 (T3), with tap water as the control (CK). The results revealed that T1 and T2 significantly improved leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics compared to CK, while T3 had a negative effect. Regarding the leaf area–leaf thickness (LA–LT) trade-off relationship, the T2 treatment favoured LA, whereas the CK, T1, and T3 treatments favoured LT, with trade-off values of T3 > T1 > CK. Regarding the net photosynthetic rate–transpiration rate (Pn–Tr) trade-off relationship, the CK treatment favoured Tr, whereas the T1, T2, and T3 treatments favoured Pn, with trade-off values of T2 > T1 > T3. In T1 and T2, the eggplant specific leaf area and Pn showed non-significant and highly significant positive correlations, respectively, and in CK and T3 showed non-significant and highly significant negative correlations, respectively. These results indicate that foliar application of Se at appropriate concentrations can increase crop productivity in semi-arid areas.