Selenium and vanadium on seed germination and seedling growth in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of vanadium (V) and selenium (Se), as selenite (Na2SeO3) and selenate (Na2SeO4), on the germination and initial growth of pepper and radish. The seeds and seedlings were incubated under controlled conditions of light and temperature, and the concentrations evaluated were 2.5, 5 and 10 mu M V, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mu M Na2SeO3 and Na2SeO4, and distilled water in the control. In general, Se increased the germination percentage of pepper, but it had no effect on radish germination. Similarly, V had no effect on germination in either of the two species at the concentrations evaluated in this work. The selenite addition enhanced the seedling height, doubled the length and number of roots, and increased the dry weight of the pepper seedlings. In radish, selenite enhanced the seedling height, and the highest dose (5 mu M) stimulated root growth. Selenate only improved the length and number of roots and the dry weight of the pepper seedlings, whereas in radish it enhanced seedling height, and the lowest dose (1.25 mu M) increased the dry weight. V had a similar effect to that of selenate, improving the growth of the pepper root and the aerial part of radish. The best results for seedling height and dry weight were obtained at the lowest dose evaluated (2.5 mu M).