Abstract

Selenium is an essential and also toxic trace element for organisms including plants. We studied the role of selenium (Na₂SeO₄) on growth and carbohydrate metabolism and its interaction with sulphate (Na₂SO₄) in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Satabdi) seedlings. Low concentration of selenium (2µM) showed stimulatory effect on growth as opposed to its higher concentration (50µM). Selenium was found to accumulate in a dose dependent linear pattern in the plant tissues. Exposure to selenate increased both reducing and non reducing sugar contents in the rice seedlings accompanied with an increase in the activities of sugar metabolizing enzymes like Sucrose Synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) and Sucrose Phosphate Synthase (EC 2.4.1.14). An increase in Starch Phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) activity corresponded with the reduction in starch contents in the rice seedlings. Since Selenium is chemically analogous to sulphate, simultaneous application of sodium sulphate (10mM) and selenate (Na₂SeO₄) was found to ameliorate partially or totally all the tested parameters under selenate treatment alone resulting in alteration of growth and development of the test seedlings.

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