Selenium nanoparticles reduce Ce accumulation in grains and ameliorate yield attributes in mung bean (Vigna radiata) exposed to CeO2

Exposure of crops to CeO2 nanoparticles (nCeO(2)) in agricultural environments impact crop quality and human health. In this regard, the effects of selenium nanoparticles (nSe) on the yield and quality of Vigna radiata (L.) exposed to nCeO(2) were investigated. The experiment was carried out as a factorial with two factors: NPs (nCeO(2), and nSe) as factor one and concentrations as factor two [(0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L nCeO(2); 0, 25, 50 and 75 mg/L nSe)]. Nanoparticles were foliar applied to 45-day old mung bean shoot in two steps and one-week interval. At 250-1000 mg/L, nCeO(2) increased P, protein and Ce accumulation in grain. Additionally, at 1000 mg/L, the nCeO(2), significantly decreased seed number, yield, Fe, and Zn storage in seeds. Conversely, at 25 and 50 mg/L, nSe stimulated the growth and yield of mung bean, and significantly increased P, Fe, Zn, and Se in seeds, but reduced the protein content in seeds. The Se-25+Ce-250 and Se-50+Ce-250 significantly increased pod number, seed number, grain weight, yield, Fe, Zn and Se storage in grains. In contrast, the Ce accumulation in seeds decreased in all combination treatments (nCeO(2) + nSe) compared to their respective single nCeO(2) treatments. Moreover, in the plants exposed to high nCeO(2 )concentrations, nSe application resulted in undamaged vacuoles, less starch granules' accumulation, significant yield improvement, and elevated Fe, Se, and Zn in seeds. Data suggest that selenium nanoparticles prevent nCeO(2) stress in mung bean and improve grain production and quality.