THE WATER TREATED WITH LOW-FREQUENCY LOW-PRESSURE GLOW PLASMA ENHANCES THE PHYTOAVAILABILITY OF SELENIUM AND PROMOTES THE GROWTH OF SELENIUM-TREATED CUCUMBER PLANTS

Barbara Hawrylak-Nowak

Department of Plant Physiology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Sławomir Dresler

Department of Plant Physiology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland

Renata Matraszek-Gawron

Department of Plant Physiology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Zdzisław Oszczęda

Nantes Chemicals, Dolnych Młynów 21, 59-700 Bolesławiec, Poland

Magdalena Pogorzelec

Abstrakt

For its specific physical and physicochemical properties, the water treated with low-frequency low-pressure glow plasma (GPTW) affects the growth of plants and enhances the phytoavalibility of selenium (Se) ions from the nutrient solution. The basic biometric and physiological parameters of cucumber and the uptake of Se ions applied as selenate (Na₂SeO₄) from the nutrient solution prepared using GPTW or distilled water (DW) were compared. In the presence of Se, the fresh weight (f.w.) of shoots of plants growing in water-differentiated nutrient solutions did not differ, whilst their dry weight (d.w.) and leaf area (LA) were higher in plants grown in the GPTW- than in DW-containing medium. The use of GPTW for preparation of the nutrient solution was associated with a substantial improvement of Se ions phytoavailability, compared to the regular growth medium based on DW. Despite the higher Se bioaccumulation in the GPTW- than in DW-based medium, the phytotoxicity of this element was not enhanced. GPTW-induced Se accumulation was remarkable and hence recommended for further study to understand the detailed mechanism GPTW action.

Słowa kluczowe:

glow plasma treated water, Cucumis sativus L., biofortification, selenate, phytotoxicity