Exogenous application of selenium on growth and antioxidant capacity of Pisum sativum L. under cadmium stress

Heavy metals pose a serious threat to environment and show adverse effects on plants, animals, and human health. Cadmium is one of the highly persistent toxic metals present in agricultural fields due to its excessive release through industrial and anthropogenic activities. The present paper deals with the effect of sodium selenate on the growth and physiological parameters of Pisum sativum L. grown under cadmium stress. The application of sodium selenate significantly enhanced root and shoot length, biomass, and physiological attributes such as chlorophyll, sugar, proline, protein, and total antioxidant contents in pea plants, protecting them against cadmium toxicity. The highest total antioxidant content (54%) was reported in Cd (20 mM) + SS (5 μM) treatment. Hence, the application of sodium selenate can be used as plant growth promoter for the growth of pea plants under cadmium stress.