SELENIUM REGULATION OF THE GRAIN YIELD, DRY MATTER, ANTIOXIDANT ATTRIBUTES, AND METAL CONTENTS OF FRAGRANT RICE UNDER STRESS OF CADMIUM AND LEAD

Abstract

. The pot experiment was carried out with two fragrant rice cultivars (Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan) grown under six experimental treatments (CK: no application of selenium, Pb(NO 3 ) 2 , and CdCl 2 ; Se: application of 80 mg selenium fertilizer per pot; Pb: application of 80 mg Pb(NO 3 ) 2 per pot; Cd: application of 10 mg CdCl 2 per pot; SePb: application of 80 mg of Se fertilizer and 80 mg Pb(NO 3 ) 2 per pot; SeCd: application of 80 mg of Se fertilizer and 10 mg CdCl 2 per pot). The results showed that selenium application improved the yield of fragrant rice under lead and cadmium stress. The application of Se fertilizer treatment increased the grain yield of Yuxiangyouzhan under the Pb and Cd stress by 84.55% and 22.44%, respectively, and improved the grain yield of Xiangyaxiangzhan by 43.07% and 46.55%, respectively, as compared to no Se fertilizer treatment. The application of selenium fertilizer treatment significantly increased the total dry weight of fragrant rice as compared to no selenium fertilizer treatment under the Pb and Cd stress. The application of Se fertilizer regulated the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT and the content of MDA. Under the influence of selenium fertilizer, the variations in Cd and Pb concentration were cultivar-dependent. Our results suggested that the application of selenium fertilizer regulated the yield formation, due to the improvement in dry matter accumulation and the change in antioxidant response in fragrant rice.