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Foliar application of selenium for protection against the first stages of mycotoxin infection of crop plant leaves
Author(s) -
Kornaś Andrzej,
Filek Maria,
Sieprawska Apolonia,
BednarskaKozakiewicz Elżbieta,
Gawrońska Katarzyna,
Miszalski Zbigniew
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.9145
Subject(s) - mycotoxin , zearalenone , selenium , biology , seedling , phytotoxin , crop , zea mays , toxin , agronomy , horticulture , botany , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of selenium (Se) ions directly to the leaf surface can protect plants against infection by the fungal toxin zearalenone (ZEA). The experiments were performed for the most common and agronomically important crops such as wheat, oat, and barley (both tolerant and sensitive varieties) because mycotoxin accumulation in plants is the cause of many diseases in animals and people. RESULTS ZEA at a concentration of 10 µmol L –1 either alone or in combination with Se (5 µmol L –1 Na 2 SeO 4 ) was applied to the second leaf of seedlings. Visualization of leaf temperature profiles by infrared thermography demonstrated a decrease in temperature at the location of ZEA infection that was more noticeable in sensitive genotypes. The presence of Se significantly suppressed changes at the site of ZEA application in all tested plants, especially the tolerant genotypes. Microscopic observations confirmed that foliar administration of ZEA resulted in its penetration to deeper localized cells and that damage induced by ZEA (mainly to chloroplasts) decreased after Se application. Analyses of antioxidant enzymes demonstrated the involvement of Se in antioxidation mechanisms, in particular by activating SOD and CAT under ZEA‐induced stress conditions. CONCLUSION The foliar application of Se to seedling leaves may be a non‐invasive method of protecting crops against the first steps of ZEA infection. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry