Effects of selenium on some morphological and physiological traits of tomato plants grown under hydroponic condition

A hydroponic experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design (CRD) to study the effects of Selenium (Se) on tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L), cv. Foria with three replications. Treatments included 3, 5, 7, and 10 mu M sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and 0 as control. The results showed that selenium (Se) at 7 mu M was beneficial to photosynthesis pigments. The highest relative water content was resulted from the 3 mu M Se treatment. The membrane stability index was decreased with increasing Se concentration up to 10 mu M Se. An increase in peroxidase (POD) activity occurred at the 3 mu M Se level, and the catalase (CAT) activity was 80% higher than the control at the 7 mu M Se level. In general, the highest root volume, leaf numbers, carotenoids content, and CAT activity were found at the 5 mu M Se level, and Chlorophyll content increased at the 7 and 10 mu M Se levels.