The Effect of Nano-Selenium Dioxide on Flowering Performance and Biochemical Traits of Echinacea purpurea L. under Salinity Stress

Subject Areas : Journal of Ornamental Plants

Sara Masoudi ¹ , Marzieh Ghanbari Jahromi ² , Marjan Diyanat ³

1 - Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2025-07-24 Accepted : 2025-08-06 Published : 2025-08-16

Keywords: Antioxidants, Floral, Morphometrics, Nano-Selenium, Oxidative.,

Abstract :

Echinacea purpurea L., a valuable ornamental and medicinal plant, is widely used in landscape design and therapeutic gardens; however, its growth and physiological performance are adversely affected by salinity stress. This study evaluated the potential of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) to mitigate salinity-induced damage in E. purpurea using a factorial experiment arranged in a completely randomized design with three salinity levels (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) and three Se NP concentrations (0, 50, and 100 mg/L). Salinity stress significantly reduced morphophysiological traits, including leaf number, lateral branches, flower number, flower head diameter, peduncle length, flower longevity, and aerial fresh weight, as well as photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) and anthocyanin content. However, Se NP application, particularly at 100 mg/L, effectively counteracted these detrimental effects, enhancing vegetative and reproductive growth. Antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were highest under severe salinity (100 mM NaCl) combined with 100 mg/L Se NPs, indicating their role in stress amelioration. The findings demonstrate that Se NPs can serve as a promising strategy to improve E. purpurea's resilience to salinity stress, optimizing its ornamental and medicinal value in saline-affected environments.

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