Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings

Objective: Selenium (Se) is not necessary for plants but alleviates the harmful effects of abiotic stresses. Indeed, high Se levels cause toxicity by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting several metabolic processes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Materials and Method...

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Main Authors: Mustafa Yıldız, Emre Pehlivan, Hakan Terzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2023-12-01
Series:European Journal of Biology
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Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/F8C4B2BEFDDE492196029E0362DA5E06
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author Mustafa Yıldız
Emre Pehlivan
Hakan Terzi
author_facet Mustafa Yıldız
Emre Pehlivan
Hakan Terzi
author_sort Mustafa Yıldız
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Selenium (Se) is not necessary for plants but alleviates the harmful effects of abiotic stresses. Indeed, high Se levels cause toxicity by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting several metabolic processes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Materials and Methods: The effects of Se toxicity on the morphological and physiological attributes of hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were illustrated. Five-day-old seedlings were subjected to 0 (control), 50, and 100 μMSe. After ten days, the treated seedlings were harvested to analyze growth, cell viability, photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and enzymatic antioxidants.Results: The results indicated that excess Se resulted in phytotoxicity, as demonstrated by reduced seedling growth, root activity, and chlorophyll accumulation but higher malondialdehyde content. Se also increased oxidative stress, as illustrated by the accumulation of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and loss of membrane integrity. The antioxidative system was induced to detoxify ROS through the superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase enzymes. Excess Se increased catalase activity, while the opposite happened in superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase activities.Conclusion: These results may improve the understanding of Se phytotoxicity in plants.
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spelling doaj-art-1f8f9cd425554e42b633a862e8d44f2b2025-08-20T03:11:02ZengIstanbul University PressEuropean Journal of Biology2618-61442023-12-0182215416010.26650/EurJBiol.2023.1353293123456Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize SeedlingsMustafa Yıldız0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6819-9891Emre Pehlivan1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9405-0524Hakan Terzi2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4817-1100Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Afyon, TurkiyeAfyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Afyon, TurkiyeAfyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi, Afyon, TurkiyeObjective: Selenium (Se) is not necessary for plants but alleviates the harmful effects of abiotic stresses. Indeed, high Se levels cause toxicity by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting several metabolic processes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.Materials and Methods: The effects of Se toxicity on the morphological and physiological attributes of hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were illustrated. Five-day-old seedlings were subjected to 0 (control), 50, and 100 μMSe. After ten days, the treated seedlings were harvested to analyze growth, cell viability, photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and enzymatic antioxidants.Results: The results indicated that excess Se resulted in phytotoxicity, as demonstrated by reduced seedling growth, root activity, and chlorophyll accumulation but higher malondialdehyde content. Se also increased oxidative stress, as illustrated by the accumulation of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and loss of membrane integrity. The antioxidative system was induced to detoxify ROS through the superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase enzymes. Excess Se increased catalase activity, while the opposite happened in superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase activities.Conclusion: These results may improve the understanding of Se phytotoxicity in plants.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/F8C4B2BEFDDE492196029E0362DA5E06antioxidant enzymesgrowthoxidative stressphytotoxicityzea mays l.
spellingShingle Mustafa Yıldız
Emre Pehlivan
Hakan Terzi
Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
European Journal of Biology
antioxidant enzymes
growth
oxidative stress
phytotoxicity
zea mays l.
title Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
title_full Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
title_fullStr Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
title_full_unstemmed Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
title_short Selenium Toxicity Induced Physiological and Biochemical Alterations in Maize Seedlings
title_sort selenium toxicity induced physiological and biochemical alterations in maize seedlings
topic antioxidant enzymes
growth
oxidative stress
phytotoxicity
zea mays l.
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/F8C4B2BEFDDE492196029E0362DA5E06
work_keys_str_mv AT mustafayıldız seleniumtoxicityinducedphysiologicalandbiochemicalalterationsinmaizeseedlings
AT emrepehlivan seleniumtoxicityinducedphysiologicalandbiochemicalalterationsinmaizeseedlings
AT hakanterzi seleniumtoxicityinducedphysiologicalandbiochemicalalterationsinmaizeseedlings