SALINITY AND SELENIUM NANOPARTICLES EFFECT ON ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM AND MALONDIALDEHYDE CONTENT IN OCIMUM BASILICUM L. SEEDLINGS

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutritional element and its presence has a crucial role in fortification of crops. The aim of the work was to investigate the possible use of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in the mitigation of salinity stress on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seedlings. Non-enzymatic compounds, enzymatic activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) as indicator of lipid peroxidation products were quantified under the influence of SeNPs and two concentrations of NaCl (50 mM and 100 mM) applied singular or combined. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in O. basilicum seedlings was generally lower in the control regardless of the treatment applied singular or combined. The same decreasing trend was noted in the case of total polyphenols and MDA content. On the other hand, both combined treatments stimulated the soluble protein content in relation to the single variant, the increase being more pronounced at 50mM + SeNPs in respect with the singular treatment