Effects of Selenium Treatments on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Growth and Concentrations of Soluble Sugars and Starch

Abstract

The effect of selenium (Se) treatments on potato growth and Se, soluble sugar, and starch accumulation was investigated. Potato plants were cultivated in quartz sand without or with sodium selenate (0, 0.075, 0.3 mg Se kg(-1) sand). In young potato plants, Se treatment resulted in higher starch concentrations in upper leaves. The tuber yield of Se-treated potato plants was higher and composed of relatively few but large tubers. At harvest, the starch concentration in tubers did not differ significantly between treatments. The higher Se addition (0.3 mg Se kg(-1)) may have delayed the aging of stolons and roots, which was observed as high concentrations of soluble sugar and starch. Together with the earlier results showing elevated starch concentration in Se-treated lettuce, the findings of this research justify the conclusion that Se has positive effects also on potato carbohydrate accumulation and possibly on yield formation.

Effect of foliar application of selenium on the content of selected amino acids in potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.)

“…This was positively reflected in tuber yields, particularly of plants treated with a lower rate of Se, which confirms the findings of Turakainen et al (2004). An important factor in Se fertilisation is an adequate level of nitrogenous nutrition and naturally also of other biogenic elements (Ducsay et al 2009), which would be able to inhibit any toxic effect of Se on the plants.…”

“…With further applications of Se its content in potato tubers increased as reported Turakainen et al 2004. The content of Se was higher in the Karin tubers than in Ditta in both years of the study.…”

“…At adequate rates, which are different for individual groups of plants, Se is beneficial to plants (Ducsay et al 2009). In experiments of Turakainen et al (2004) potato yields increased even at a rate of 0.3 mg Se/kg of substrate. In plants of wheat, Se toxicity was not observed within the range of 4-200 g Se/ha (Lyons et al 2005).…”

“…Beneficial effects of Se were reported explored in terms of plant protection against abiotic stress (Hartikainen and Xue 1999), plant protection against reactive oxygen compounds (Ríos et al 2009), activator of the protective mechanism that reduces oxidation stress for example in chloroplasts (Seppänen et al 2003), phloem-feeding aphids and herbivorous caterpillars (Hanson et al 2004), and fungal diseases (Hanson et al 2003). Selenium has a positive effect also on potato carbohydrate accumulation and possibly on yield formation (Turakainen et al 2004).…”

Effect of Selenium on Growth, Physiological Aspects and Productivity of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

“…Boldrin et al(2013) observed that is able to move further through the phloem when it sprayed on leaves, the same easily transported through the xylem when it applied in the soil and absorbed by roots in rice plants. Similar results were also reported by Hawrylak -Nowak (2009) on cucumber and by Turakainen et al (2004) on potato. Kumar et al (2013) and Kumar et al (2014) also recorded increase in morphological parameters of legume crops with spraying of different chemicals at flowering and reproductive stages of crops.…”