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Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in Relation to Different Forms and Application Rates of Se in Lettuce Plants

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Abstract

The main objective of this work was to determine whether nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) was affected by the application of different forms and dosages of selenium (Se), to ascertain the influence of this trace element in a biofortification program in lettuce plants. The parameters analyzed were biomass, NO3 − concentration, and total reduced N as well as those defining NUE in plants: total nitrogen accumulation (TNA), nitrogen efficient ratio (NER), nitrogen-utilization efficiency (NUtE), and nitrogen-uptake efficiency (NUpE). According to our results, application of Se affected NUE in lettuce plants. With the application of selenite as well as selenate NO3 − uptake was reduced, thus diminishing the NUpE and the foliar concentration of this anion. In addition, selenate application at a rate of 20 μM and selenite at 5 μM induced N utilization, reflected by an increase in NER and NUtE; this result coincides with augmented biomass production. Notably, our results indicate that when Se is applied at high rates, selenite is far more phytotoxic, this being associated with a higher reduction of NUE in these plants.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Plan Andaluz de Investigacion, research group AGR-161.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Juan J. Ríos, Begoña Blasco, Luis M. Cervilla, Maria M. Rubio-Wilhelmi, Miguel A. Rosales, Eva Sanchez-Rodriguez, Luis Romero & Juan M. Ruiz

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  1. Juan J. Ríos
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  2. Begoña Blasco
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  3. Luis M. Cervilla
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  4. Maria M. Rubio-Wilhelmi
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  5. Miguel A. Rosales
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  6. Eva Sanchez-Rodriguez
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  7. Luis Romero
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  8. Juan M. Ruiz
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Correspondence to Juan J. Ríos.

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Ríos, J.J., Blasco, B., Cervilla, L.M. et al. Nitrogen-Use Efficiency in Relation to Different Forms and Application Rates of Se in Lettuce Plants. J Plant Growth Regul 29, 164–170 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-009-9130-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-009-9130-7

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