Seed priming with selenium nanoparticle and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve seedling development of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) under salinity stress

Abstract Much research has been carried out in agriculture and physiology to minimize the adverse effects of salinity on crops. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium nanoparticles and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPRs) pretreatment on increasing the resistance of foxtail millet to salinity stress. Experimental treatments consisted of selenium nanoparticles at a concentration of 1 mg L-1, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens and three different levels of saline solution with concentrations of 0, 100 and 200mM sodium chloride. In this study, foxmillet seeds were primming with solutions of selenium nanoparticles, a variety of bacteria and a mixture of both, and then the pretreated seeds were planted in pots and after two weeks were affected by salinity stress. After 10 days of salinity stress, plants were harvested for analysis. The results of measuring the growth, biochemical and physiological parameters of this study showed that soaking millet seeds in a solution of selenium nanoparticles can increase the plant's ability to cope with salinity stress by increasing photosynthetic pigments, compatible solutes, reducing oxidative stress, protecting the cell membrane and reducing sodium uptake, and it has more effects in the presence of PGPRs bacteria (such as Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens). Therefore, it is suggested that these two biostimulators be used together for greater effects. In addition, since most of the positive functions of these bacteria were not affected by salinity stress, so this type of bacteria can be used with selenium in saline soils.