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Effects of selenium on leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics of eggplant

Lu Zhang, Xiawei Zhao, Yan Wang, Xinyu Ma, Haolin Li, chengzhang zhao

Abstract

The response of leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics to selenium (Se) application reflects plant adaptation strategies for selenium-enhanced accumulation of photosynthetic products. This study selected eggplant as the research subject and conducted a field experiment to better understand these relationships. This study included three Se treatments, foliar sprays of 0.5 mg/L (T1), 1 mg/L (T2), and 1.5 mg/L (T3), with clear water as the control (CK). The results revealed that the T1 and T2 significantly improved leaf traits and photosynthetic characteristics compared to CK, while T3 had a negative effect. Regarding the Leaf Area-Leaf Thickness (LA-LT) trade-off relationship, the T2 treatment favoured LA, whereas the CK, T1 and T3 treatments favoured LT, with a trade-off value of T3>T1>CK. Regarding the Net photosynthetic rate-Transpiration rate (Pn-Tr) trade-off relationship, the CK treatment favoured Tr, whereas the T1, T2, and T3 treatments favoured Pn, with a trade-off value of T2>T1>T3. In T1 and T2, the eggplant specific leaf area and Pn showed non-significant and highly significant positive correlations, respectively, and in CK and T3 showed non-significant and highly significant negative correlations, respectively. These results indicate that foliar application of Se at appropriate concentrations can increase crop productivity in semi-arid areas.

FP24292  Accepted 11 February 2025

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