Investigation of the effects of selenium nanoparticles and sodium selenite on morphologic and micro-morphologic characters of Thymus fallax Fisch. & C.A.Mey.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

2 Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch

3 Member of the faculty of the Research Institute of FForests and Rangelands of the country

4 Islamic Azad University, Damghan branch

5 Islamic Azad University, Garmsar branch

10.22092/ijrfpbgr.2024.364278.1452

Abstract

Background and objectives: 
Thymus fallax from the Thymus genus belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It contains high amounts of thymol and carvacrol. Due to its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, it has many uses in the pharmaceutical and health industries. The species is mainly distributed in the west, northwest, and Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. For domestication of the Thyme species, utilizing micronutrients such as selenium as a complimentary nutrient may affect the yield increment of the species. Selenium is a rare and non-metal element that has been recently highly noticed due to its antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-cancer properties on humans and increasing the tolerance of plant species to abiotic stresses. Some scientific communities suggest that this element be used as a plant fertilizer. In thyme species, the number and size of stomata and trichomes significantly affect the quality and quantity of essential oils. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of selenium concentrations in two forms of nanoparticles and bulk (selenite sodium) on morphological and micromorphological characteristics of Th. fallax.
Methodology: 
The possible effects of three concentrations (2, 4, and 8 ppm) of selenium in bulk (selenite sodium) and nanoparticle forms along with control were studied on morphologic and micro-morphologic characteristics of Th. fallax using a completely randomized design with three replications. Seeds of the species were collected from Saheb region,  located in Saghez County in Kurdistan province in the western part of Iran, at 1750 m.a.s altitude. The seeds were sown in jiffy pots containing a combination of peat moss and perlite under greenhouse conditions. Then, the seedlings were transplanted in plastic pots until the plantlets were grown to the 4-leaf stage. The plants were sprayed with the treatments six times at two-week intervals. Plants were also irrigated twice a week using Hoagland solution as a required micro and macronutrient source. Three days after the last treatment application, several morphological and micro-morphological traits were recorded on the individual plants. The data was statistically analyzed. The means of treatment were compared using the Duncan multiple range test.
Results:
Results showed significant effects of treatments on many studied traits. Stem length was increased by spraying 4ppm selenium concentrations in bulk and nanoparticle forms by 31% and 16%, respectively. In contrast, the same trait showed a 22% decrease when using eight ppm in the form of nanoparticles. The highest number of stems was obtained at a low concentration of nanoparticles, which had 37% increments compared to the control. The high concentrations of bulk and nanoparticle treatments decreased the stem number by 37% and 12%, respectively. Effects of the treatments on micro-morphological characteristics, such as the number of trichomes on both upper and lower leaf surfaces, were significant. The 8ppm nanoparticles treatment caused the most trichomes on both the upper (61.7) and lower (33.2) leaf sides, which was 158 and 296% higher than the control.
 Conclusion:
Lower concentrations of selenium increased the majority of the morphological traits. In contrast, higher concentrations of selenium decreased plant growth and development. Except for the number of trichomes on the upper and lower sides of the leaves, micro-morphological traits were not affected by higher levels of selenium concentrations. It seems that utilizing low concentrations of selenium could be beneficial as a complementary nutrient for the cultivation of Thyme species.

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Main Subjects

References

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