Vijai P.Kaushik, Sandeep2022-09-032022-09-032021Seleniumhttps://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810186996Selenium (Se) is found to aid plant growth and development at various stages. But it is still not established as an essential micronutrient for plants. Se, at lower concentrations, exerts ameliorative effects on plants. However, even at slightly higher concentrations it results in toxicity. In the present experimental research, effects of increasing Se concentrations were studied on germination and seedling growth of mung bean var. Malviya Janchetna (HUM-12) which were done in petri plates and also raised hydroponically. Toxic effects of Se at higher concentrations of 50 µM and 100 µM was observed in germination studies and seedling growth affecting the germination percentage, growth of plumule and radicle, fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot and seedling vigour indices. Lower Se concentrations (5 µM to 10 µM) was found to improve the plumule and radicle growth in the current study. Also, plumule growth was more adversely affected than radicle growth at higher Se concentrations(15 µM to100 µM). Seedling vigour indices were significantly reduced at higher Se concentration due to reduced growth and biomass production. There was marked reduction in growth kinetics studied viz. Absolute Growth Rate (AGR) and Relative Growth Rate(RGR) at Se concentrations of 50 µM and 100 µM indicating toxic effects of Se. Photosynthetic pigments, chlorophylland carotenoids were found to increase at low Se concentrations (5 µM and 10 µM) while it reduced drastically with further rise in Se concentration. Chlorophyll b and carotenoids showed no significant difference at lower Se concentration of 5 µM and 10 µM. Various biochemical parameters like Total Soluble Sugar(TSS) and proline were found to increase with increasing Se concentrations and were maximum in content at 100 µM Se concentration whereas Total Soluble Protein(TSP) was found to reduce at Se concentrations from 15 µM to 100 µM. Activity of antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) was observed to decrease with increasing Se concentrations from 15 µM whereas, reverse effects were noted with lipid peroxidation resulting in significant increase. Se concentration up to 10 µM exhibited beneficial effects with respect to parameters studied while toxic effects of Se were evidenced at 50 and 100 µM concentrations.EnglishThesis