FOLIAR-SPRAYING OF PHYCOERYTHRIN NANO-SELENIUM ALLEVIATED SALT STRESS IN SOYBEAN SEEDLINGS VIS ENHANCING PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND ANTIOXIDANT FUNCTIONS

Xiaodan Su Xiangyu Lan Changzhuo Zheng Shuo Dong Yang Pu Zhihong Tang Juan Ding FOLIAR-SPRAYING OF PHYCOERYTHRIN NANO-SELENIUM ALLEVIATED SALT STRESS IN SOYBEAN SEEDLINGS VIS ENHANCING PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND ANTIOXIDANT FUNCTIONS

Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences

JAPS

2026

36 6 1018-7081

https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.6.0146

Soil salinity stress, as one of the main abiotic stresses, affects agricultural production globally. In response to this, a novel phycoerythrin nano-selenium (PE-SeNPs) that comprised phycoerythrin 545 (Cr-PE545) for stabilizing the structure was successfully prepared to alleviate salt stress in the plant seedling. Aiming to evaluate their performance, the soybean seedlings (variety William 82) at three true leaves stage were randomly divided into four experimental groups, termed as CK (control), SS (salt stress group), PE (foliar application of 0.5 mM Cr-PE545), and PSe (foliar application of 0.5 mM PE-SeNPs), for which the CK was cultured in MS519 culture medium, and the SS, PE and PSe were cultured in MS519 supplemented with 50 mM NaCl. After 15 days, the efficacy of salt stress alleviation was analyzed by assessing indicators such as photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Compared to the salt-stressed group, in the PE-SeNPs treatment group, intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) decreased by 11.4%, and stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and total chlorophyll content increased by 101.4%, 191.38% and 198%, respectively; meanwhile, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased by 36.2%, 101% and 787%, respectively. The comprehensive analysis of mainly photosynthetic and physiological indicators highlighted that PE-SeNPs markedly help alleviate salt stress in soybean seedlings by promoting photosynthesis and scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species. This work provides a beneficial foliar fertilizer for future potential applications in sustainable agriculture. Salt stress alleviation, Phycoerythrin, Phycoerythrin nano-selenium, Antioxidant activity, Enhanced photosynthesis Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum

https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2025-JAPS-1348