Abstract
Background and Aims
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals, but its role in plants remains unclear. Selenium enters the food chain via crops, and thus, plants constitute an essential source of Se in human nutrition. As a N2-fixing plant of high nutritive value, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage legume for sustainable agriculture. This study investigated the effects of Se on carbohydrate metabolism, nodulation and growth in alfalfa. In addition, the impact of Se on fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (F1,6-BPase), a key enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism, as well as on nitrogenase activity in N-metabolism was examined.
Methods
Alfalfa was grown either in perlite or nutrient solution at different Se (0, 1, 5, 10 and 15 μmol L−1 Na2SeO4) and N (2 and 10 mmol L−1) concentrations. Plants in perlite were inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti and used for studies on nodulation, growth and nitrogenase activity. Plants grown in nutrient solution were used for studies on carbohydrate metabolism.
Results
Selenium applications (5 and 15 μmol L−1) increased soluble sugars (SS) in the leaves, on average, by 44 % in both adequate-N and low-N-plants respectively. At the low-N level, Se (10 and 15 μmol L−1) increased SS in the stems and roots, on average, by 29 % and 45 % respectively. In adequate-N-plants, Se increased SS in the stems, on average, by 46 % but had no effect in the roots. Selenium (10 and 15 μmol L−1) enhanced starch accumulation in the leaves about 55 % in low-N-plants. At the adequate-N level, Se (15 μmol L−1) increased starch accumulation about 36 %. However, the starch concentrations in the roots were inconsistent. Selenium also increased F1,6-BPase activity in the upper leaflets. In addition, in low-N-plants, the low Se (1 μmol L−1 and 5 μmol L−1) applications increased nodule number (NN) about 40 % and 62 % respectively, but NN decreased with plant growth. In symbiotic plants, Se did not significantly affect nodule fresh weight (NFW), nitrogenase activity and N concentrations. Selenium also had a slightly negative effect on dry matter accumulation in shoots and roots of alfalfa.
Conclusions
The results indicate that, Se up-regulates carbohydrate metabolism via altered redox potential which may have some stimulatory effects on nodulation. These effects were, however, dependent on the Se concentration and the developmental stage of the plant. More detailed studies are needed to fully understand the role of Se in N2 fixation.
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The Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the August Johannes and Aino Tiura Foundation, the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry are gratefully acknowledged for financial support.
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Owusu-Sekyere, A., Kontturi, J., Hajiboland, R. et al. Influence of selenium (Se) on carbohydrate metabolism, nodulation and growth in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Plant Soil 373, 541–552 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1815-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1815-9