Effects of salicylic acid and organic selenium on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exposed to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl

In this study, we evaluated effects of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl herbicide on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The wheat plants were grown in pots containing perlite. Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl was applied to adequately grown T. aestivum plants at determined doses (1 mM, 1.5 mM, 2.2 mM, 3.4 mM and 5.1 mM) via spraying. The effects of this herbicide on some antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, carotenoid, total chlorophyll and total phenolic were investigated on days 1, 5 and 10 following the application. Environmental pollutants cause oxidative stress, production of free radicals and changes in antioxidants. Synthesis of signal molecules such as salicylic acid (SA) is important for the stress response of plants. In addition to this, although selenium is known not to be an obligatory element for plants, low dose selenium has positive effects on the plant growth. We also investigated the effects that are elicited on parameters above mentioned by the treatment of exogenous 0.5 mM SA and 0.004 mM organic selenium (SeI) separately. Our findings reveal that SA and SeI, which are externally applied before the germination of seeds that are exposed to herbicide stress, becomes effective in reduction of the negative effects of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, with regard to antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation, pigment system and total phenolic. When we evaluate the study results, our findings suggest that especially SA plays a protective role on wheat against herbicide stress.