Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in Relation to Different Forms and Application Rates of Se in Lettuce Plants

• Published in: Journal of plant growth regulation Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 164 - 170
• Main Authors: Ríos, Juan J, Blasco, Begoña, Cervilla, Luis M, Rubio-Wilhelmi, Maria M, Rosales, Miguel A, Sanchez-Rodriguez, Eva, Romero, Luis, Ruiz, Juan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Springer-Verlag 01.06.2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biofortification; Biomedical and Life Sciences; lettuce; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; NUE; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Selenate; Selenite; Selenium; Trace elements; Biofortification; Lettuce; Selenite; Selenate; NUE
• ISSN: 0721-7595; 1435-8107
• DOI: 10.1007/s00344-009-9130-7

The main objective of this work was to determine whether nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) was affected by the application of different forms and dosages of selenium (Se), to ascertain the influence of this trace element in a biofortification program in lettuce plants. The parameters analyzed were biomass, NO₃ ⁻ concentration, and total reduced N as well as those defining NUE in plants: total nitrogen accumulation (TNA), nitrogen efficient ratio (NER), nitrogen-utilization efficiency (NUtE), and nitrogen-uptake efficiency (NUpE). According to our results, application of Se affected NUE in lettuce plants. With the application of selenite as well as selenate NO₃ ⁻ uptake was reduced, thus diminishing the NUpE and the foliar concentration of this anion. In addition, selenate application at a rate of 20 μM and selenite at 5 μM induced N utilization, reflected by an increase in NER and NUtE; this result coincides with augmented biomass production. Notably, our results indicate that when Se is applied at high rates, selenite is far more phytotoxic, this being associated with a higher reduction of NUE in these plants.