Effect of Different Levels of Selenium and Sulfur on Growth and Yield of Three Cultivars of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Selenium is an essential element for human and animal heath, with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Although, researchers have found it to increase vegetative growth. It is not considered to be essential for higher plants. In order to evaluate the effect of selenium and sulfur on growth and yield of three cultivars of spring wheat a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replicates was conducted in pots at the Agricultural Faculty of Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Iran, during 2009-2010. Treatments were 3 cultivars of spring wheat (Karaj, Pishtaz and Sepahan), 5 levels of selenium (0, 0.2, 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) in the form of sodium selenate used and 4 levels of elemental sulfur (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). Results showed that 0.2 and 2 mg Se/kg of soil increased growth and yield in all three cultivars, but 5 and 10 mg Se/kg of soil without sulfur, caused toxicity symptoms, white spots on leaf margins, while its toxicity decreased when 50 and 100 mg S/kg of soil was used and toxicity disappeared by using 150 mg S/kg of soil. This indicates that low levels of Se may have positive effects on growth and yield of wheat through meaningful interaction between Se and sulfur.

Keywords

• selenium
• Spring wheat
• Sulfur
• Vegetative growth
• yield