Seed priming with selenite enhances germination and seedling growth of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] under salt stress

ABSTRACT

Justify that the use of selenium has been shown to promote seed germination and seedling growth of some crops under salt stress but the physiological mechanisms in sorghum remain poorly understood. Herein, grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] variety Jinza 2002 was used to explore the effects and mechanisms of seed priming with 25 μmol/L sodium selenite [Se(IV)] on seed germination, seedling growth, antioxidant enzyme activity and osmotic regulatory substances under 120 mmol/L NaCl. The results showed that soaking sorghum seeds in Se(IV) effectively alleviated the harm of salt stress. Compared with the Na group, Se(IV) application increased germination percentage (by 23.8%), while facilitating the elongation of radicles (by 4.2%) and plumules (by 18.4%) under salt stress. Salt-stressed seedlings showed increased levels of leaf chlorophyll, soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as root activity, and total biomass following Se(IV) application, along with decreased relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content in the leaves. Findings of this study indicate that seed priming with Se(IV) facilitates sorghum seed germination and seedling growth under salt stress by improving root activity, enhancing leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant responses, and reducing cell membrane damage.

KEYWORDS:

• Grain sorghum
• salt stress
• selenium
• seed germination
• seedling growth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The Research Programme Sponsored by the Special Project of Molecular Breeding Platform of Minor Crops of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences [grant number YGC2019FZ5]; The Shanxi Province Brewing Sorghum Seed Industry Innovation and Superior Varieties Joint Research [grant number 2022NZGL-06]; Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province, China [grant numbers 202103021223137, 202103021223130]; Biological Breeding Project of Shanxi Agricultural University [grant number YZGC062].

Notes on contributors

Mengen Nie

Mengen Nie is an assistant research at Center for Agricultural Gene Resources Research, Shanxi Agricultural University. Her area of work focuses on sorghum germplasm innovation and new variety selection.

Na Ning

Na Ning is an associate professor at College of Resources Environment and Chemistry, Chuxiong Normal University. Her area of work focuses on high yield and efficient crop cultivation technology and theory.

Du Liang

Du Liang is an associate research at Sorghum Research Institute, Shanxi Agricultural University. His area of work focuses on the selection and breeding of new sorghum varieties.

Haiping Zhang

Haiping Zhang is a research at Center for Agricultural Gene Resources Research, Shanxi Agricultural University. Her area of work focuses on crop drought tolerance gene mining.

Shuangshuang Li

Shuangshuang Li is an undergraduate student at College of Resources Environment and Chemistry, Chuxiong Normal University. Her work focuses on crop adversity physiology.

Shuai Li

Shuai Li is an undergraduate student at College of Resources Environment and Chemistry, Chuxiong Normal University. His work focuses on crop adversity physiology.

Xinqi Fan

Xinqi Fan is an assistant research at Sorghum Research Institute, Shanxi Agricultural University. Her work focuses on sorghum genetics and germplasm innovation.

Yizhong Zhang

Yizhong Zhang is an associate research at Sorghum Research Institute, Shanxi Agricultural University. His area of work focuses on the selection and breeding of new sorghum varieties.