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Article

Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on Germination of Hordéum Vulgáre Barley Seeds

by
Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
1,2,*,
Andrey Vladimirovich Blinov
3,
Alexander Vladimirovich Serov
3,
Alexey Alekseevich Gvozdenko
3,
Alexander Aleksandrovich Kravtsov
3,4,
Andrey Ashotovich Nagdalian
3,*,
Vladislav Viktorovich Raffa
3,
David Guramievich Maglakelidze
3,
Anastasiya Alexandrovna Blinova
3,
Anna Vitalievna Kobina
3,
Alexey Borisovich Golik
3 and
Salam A. Ibrahim
5,*
1
Technical University of Munich Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Essigberg 3, 94315 Straubing, Germany
2
DIL e.V.–German Institute of Food Technologies, Prof.-von-Klitzing-Straße 7, 49610 Quakenbrück, Germany
3
Department of Physics and Technology of Nanostructures and Materials, North-Caucasus Federal University, Pushkina Street 1, 355009 Stavropol, Russia
4
Laboratory of Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Nanoheterostructures for Microwave Electronics and Photonics, Federal Research Center, The Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chehova Street 41, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
5
Food Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, E. Market Street 1601, Greensboro, NC 24711, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2021, 11(7), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11070862
Submission received: 16 June 2021 / Revised: 4 July 2021 / Accepted: 14 July 2021 / Published: 19 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Collection Advanced Surface Coating of Nanoparticles)
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Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Within the framework of this study, the effect of nanoparticles of the essential trace element selenium stabilized by Polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP) C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid on the germination of barley seeds has been studied. Selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, characterized by a spherical shape, monodisperse size distribution, and a diameter of about 70 ± 5 nm, were obtained by the chemical reduction method. The experiment compared the effect of selenium nanoparticles and selenous acid on seed germination. The positive effect of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid on the length of roots and shoots, the number of roots, and the percentage of seed germination has been revealed. It was determined that the highest percentage of Hordeum vulgare L. culture seed germination was achieved using a preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid at a concentration of of 4.65 µg/mL. Analysis of the results showed that selenium in the form of nanoparticles has an order of magnitude that is less toxic than in the form of selenous acid. The study of morphological and functional parameters during the germination of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds allowed us to conclude that selenium nanoparticles can be successfully used in agronomy and agriculture to provide plants with the essential microelement selenium, which is necessary for the normal growth and development of crops.

1. Introduction

The applications of nanotechnology are becoming more widespread in various industries. Agriculture is one of the significant areas for the potential introduction of new nanomaterials, which is connected with the digitalization of agriculture and the use of the latest applied information methods and technologies. The research and development of high-performance nanostructured adsorbent sensors for selective detection of trace elements and heavy metals in various media and materials used in agriculture is promising [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Another promising area is the use of nanoparticles to improve the productivity of crops [10,11] and the production of seed dressing agents [4,12,13]. A promising direction for the practical application of nanotechnology in agriculture is the use of metal nanoparticles for pre-sowing treatment of agricultural plant seeds since the pre-sowing treatment of seeds is one of the simplest ways to improve the quality of seed and increase crop yields. Nanoparticles cause changes in several metabolic pathways that affect plant growth and subsequent development. Nanoparticles are involved in the synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. They raise the content of chlorophyll in leaves, as well as improve the process of photosynthesis. It has been suggested that metal nanoparticles can also neutralize various toxic substances in the soil [14,15,16].
Nanoparticles have a positive effect on seed development and sowing quality. Under their influence, plants become more resistant to adverse conditions, drought, disease, and pests. Studies show that nanoparticles significantly stimulate the germination and growth of seedlings in the early stages of ontogenesis [17,18,19]. The effect of nanoparticles on plant development can be dose dependent. For example, it was shown that with an increase in the concentration of silver nanoparticles, the growth of seedlings can slow down in comparison with the control [20,21,22]. Additionally, their toxic effect may depend on the size of nanoparticles [23]. For example, it was experimentally confirmed that small silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 6 nm are more toxic than large ones (20–1000 nm) [24,25].
Special attention is paid to the study of the effects of essential trace elements such as selenium. This element is important for the full functioning of the plant organism [26,27]. The following forms of Se can be used in agriculture—selenates, selenites, selenomethionine (SeMet), methioselenocysteine (MeSeCys) and nanoscale Se. The authors of [28] note that nanoscale selenium is the most promising form of selenium.
The effect of selenium nanoparticles on different plant species can vary greatly depending on the stage of plant growth, the duration of exposure, and also the shape, size, chemical composition, concentration, surface structure, aggregation and solubility of the nanoparticle [29,30]. Earlier studies have shown that selenium nanoparticles can enhance antioxidant potential [28], promote plant growth [16,31,32] and positively affect the quality and quantity of the resulting crop [33,34].
Selenium can have both a positive effect and cause serious negative effects on plant organisms, strictly depending on the concentration of Se and the type of plant [35,36]. However, at the level of the entire plant, an excess of selenium causes chlorosis, wilting and stunting of shoots and roots. Selenium disrupts both non-proteomic processes (for example, lipid peroxidation and changes in the redox status) and proteomic (deformed selenoproteins) [37], as well as protein damage associated with general abiotic stress (oxidized or nitrated proteins) [38,39]. The current levels of selenium in plant tissues usually exceed 5 mg/kg, but the tolerance to selenium in agricultural plants varies greatly. For rice, the selenium concentration of 2 mg/kg was toxic [40], wheat showed toxic symptoms at 4.9 mg/kg, while Dutch clover tolerated 330 mg/kg of selenium in tissues [41]. The effect of Se nanoparticles on wheat, rice, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, lettuce and others is considered in [28].
It was shown in [41] that the use of Se nanoparticles as a fertilizer has a favorable effect on the resistance of plants to temperature increases (hyperthermia). It is shown that, in plant samples of Raphanus sativus var cultures, Sativus, Solanum melongena and S. Lycopersicum grown with the addition of Se nanoparticles (10 µg/kg), the surface area of the leaf blade is two times larger than that of the plants of the control group. The surface area of the leaf plate of a C. sativus culture plant grown using Se nanoparticles increased by almost 50% compared to the control. In the case of Capsicum annuum culture, the addition of Se nanoparticles did not have a significant effect on the development of plants under hyperthermia conditions.
Thus, the study of pre-sowing treatment of seeds with various forms of selenium in order to avoid the negative toxic effects of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid is an urgent and unresolved problem. This work is devoted to the study of the production of stabilized PVP with 15 (8 = 2%) selenium nanoparticles and the effect of ascorbic acid on morphofunctional parameters during germination of barley seeds of Hordeum vulgare. This crop is particularly chosen because 70% of farm animal feed consists of barley, and this crop is also part of the insurance fund of the Russian Federation.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Synthesis of Preparation of Selenium Nanoparticles Stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and Ascorbic Acid

Reagent grade chemicals and grade A glassware were used in the present study. The conductivity of distilled water used in experiments was less than 2 µS/cm [42]. The synthesis of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP C15 with an average mol wt 8 ± 2 kDa) was conducted using the chemical reduction method [43,44]. In total, 0.25 g of selenous acid (Interkhim LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia) and 2.5 g of PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) (AK Sintvita LLC, Tula, Russia) were dissolved in 20 mL of water and stirred until complete dissolution for 50 min at room temperature. Next, a reducing agent solution was prepared. For this, 1.4 g of ascorbic acid (Component-Reactive LLC, Moscow, Russia) was dissolved in 10 mL of water. After the complete dissolution of the substances, both solutions were mixed with vigorous stirring. The resulting sol of selenium nanoparticles was stirred for 15 min. Next, the resulting sample was poured into an opaque brown glass container.

2.2. Samples Measurement

The size and shape of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid were determined by transmission electron microscopy on a JEM 100B microscope (JEOL, Akishima, Japan). Sample preparation consisted of diluting the solutions of nanosized selenium stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid to weak opalescence, after which the resulting solution was applied to a carbon-coated measuring grid. After drying, the mesh was placed on the stage of an electron microscope.
The hydrodynamic radius of the synthesized preparation of selenium nanoparticles, stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, was measured by the dynamic light scattering method using the photon correlation spectrometer Photocor Complex (Photocor, Moscow, Russia).
The ξ-potential of the preparation was studied by acoustic and electroacoustic spectroscopy at the DT-1202 facility (Dispersion technology inc., New York, NY, USA).
The concentration of Se nanoparticles was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy using a time-of-flight SurfaceSeer-S Kore technology mass spectrometer.
The optical absorption spectra of selenium sols were measured by spectrophotometry with an SF-56 spectrophotometer (OKB LOMO, Saint Petersburg, Russia).
The following parameters of measurement were used:
  • wavelength range: 190–1100 nm;
  • sampling frequency: 1 nm;
  • gap width: 6 nm;
  • measured value: absorption.
X-ray powder diffraction analysis was conducted using X-ray diffractometer Empyrean (PANalytical, Almelo, The Netherlands) in order to determine the crystalline structure of nanoparticles. Preparation of samples for X-ray diffraction analysis included the addition of selenium sol to aerosil powder (SiO2) and homogenization of the powder containing selenium. The parameters of the measurement were as follows:
  • Copper cathode;
  • Emission wavelength 1.54 A;
  • Current 35 mA;
  • Voltage 40 kV;
  • 2θ measurement range 10°–90°;
  • 2θ sampling frequency: 0.01°.
Elemental analysis of preparation of selenium nanoparticles, stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid samples was carried out using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy on a MIRA3-LMH scanning electron microscope (Tescan, Brno, Czech Republic) with an AZtecEnergy Standard X-max 20 system for determining the elemental composition. Sample preparation was carried out as follows: a double-sided conductive carbon tape was glued to a standard instrument table. The dry preparation of nanoselene was obtained by freeze-drying using a 10M2-M1 refrigerated drying machine (Genyond, Shanghai, China).
A dried powder of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid was then applied to a conducting carbon tape. Furthermore, a thin gold coating with a thickness of about 10 nm was applied to the selenium powder.

2.3. Treatment of the Seeds

In the experiment, we used seeds of the Hordeum vulgare L. culture, stored for more than 10 years, with reduced morphological and functional characteristics. The seeds were purchased from the Research Institute of Agriculture (SNIISH, Stavropol, Russian Federation). Previously, the seeds were not subjected to additional processing. The seeds were treated with solutions of selenium nanoparticles, ascorbic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidone, selenous acid, with various concentrations. In the control sample, the seeds were treated with distilled water. The concentrations of substances in solutions used in the seed treatment are presented in Table 1.
Hordeum vulgare L. seeds treated with solutions of various concentrations were placed in a thermostat at a constant temperature of 20 °C without illumination. Each sample contained 100 seeds. Seventy-two hours after treatment, the percentage of germinated seeds was calculated, the lengths of the roots and shoots were measured, the number of roots was determined, and the obtained data were then compared with the control.
Statistical processing of the experimental results was carried out using Statistica 12.0 software (StatSoft). To assess the significance of dressing agents’ concentration as a factor affecting the seeds’ germination percentage, the length of roots and shoots, and the number of roots, intragroup and intergroup analyses of variance (ANOVA) were carried out. The nature of the distribution of quantitative characteristics was determined using the Shapiro–Wilk test; the equality of variances was determined using the Leuven test. Tukey’s multiple comparison test was used to determine the significant difference between the samples. To compare quantitative characteristics in the intergroup analysis of variance, the Kruskal–Wallis test was used. Quantitative values were assessed using the median (Me) and the 25th and 75th percentiles. The critical level of significance (p) was taken equal to 0.05.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Selenium Nanoparticles Characterization

Often scientific articles describe results of studies of nanoparticles that do not contain a stabilizer [45,46,47]. However, when used in real environments, such particles undergo processes of aggregation, coagulation and sedimentation, with the subsequent loss of their unique properties due to dimensional effects [48,49]. Following this, a preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid was used in this work. The chemical reactions occurring during the preparation of the drug are shown in Figure 1A,B.
The structure of the particles of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid is shown in Figure 1C. The core consists of selenium particles, and the potential forming layer is formed by the NH+ groups of the PVP C15 pyrrolidone ring (8 ± 2 kDa), which is confirmed by the study of the ζ-potential, the value of which was +58.56 mV. The anti-ion layer consists of oxalic acid ions, which are obtained via the oxidation of ascorbic acid (Figure 1B), and non-reacting ascorbic acid ions, taken in excess to form a preparation with increased antioxidant properties. A schematic representation of the polymer stabilization of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid is shown in Figure 1D.
To determine the morphology of selenium nanoparticles in the obtained samples, the dried sol was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. A TEM image of selenium nanoparticles preparation stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid is shown in Figure 2A. It was found that nanoparticles have spherical shapes, monodisperse distribution, and diameters of about 70 ± 10 nm.
Measurements of the selenium nanoparticles’ hydrodynamic radius by dynamic light scattering confirm the data obtained using transmission microscopy. Figure 2B shows a histogram of the distribution of the nanoparticles’ hydrodynamic radii.
According to the measurement results, the average hydrodynamic radius of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid was 35 nm; the distribution was monomodal and the particles were characterized by a moderate polydispersity of ±10 nm.
Next, the phase composition of the dried preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid was determined. Figure 2C shows the diffractogram of a selenium sol sample mixed with aerosil.
X-ray phase analysis showed that the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid has a rhombohedral crystal lattice, space group R-3. The low intensity of the X-ray characteristic peaks indicates that the structure of the substance is strongly amorphous. An intense broad peak with a maximum at about 22° corresponds to amorphous SiO2. The presence of this peak is associated with a feature of sample preparation—the need to use aerosil as a substrate for selenium nanoparticles.
Next, the optical properties of the solution preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid were investigated. Figure 2D shows the optical absorption spectra in the visible region of a selenium sol sample and an aqueous solution of PVP.
Analysis of absorption spectra showed the presence of a resonance peak at 245 nm corresponding to preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, which was also noted in [44,50,51]. Additionally, the spectrum of the selenium sol sample contains an absorption peak at 225 nm [52,53]. This peak is associated with the absorption of PVP, which was presented in the sample as a nanoparticle stabilizer.
To assess the elemental composition, as well as the selenium content in the sample, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was performed. The results of the EDX spectroscopy of a dried selenium sol sample are presented in Figure 2E, the analysis of which made it possible to determine the mass concentrations of elements in the sample—mass %: C—72.92, O—20.03, and Se—7.05.
Analysis of the data showed the presence of the Se element in the sample, as well as carbon and oxygen, which is associated with the presence of ascorbic acid and the PVP stabilizer in the composition of dry sample. The mass fraction of selenium in the sample was 7.05 wt. %. The spectrum contains lines corresponding to Au, the presence of which is due to the need for deposition of gold coating for analysis. Gold was excluded from the analysis when calculating the contents of elements in the sample.

3.2. Effect of Preparation of Selenium Nanoparticles Stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and Ascorbic Acid on Morphofunctional Parameters of Seed Germination

At the first stage, the germination percentage as well as the morphofunctional parameters of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds germinated in water (Control group), were studied. This measurement was carried out in five replicates (n = 5). The results are presented in Table 2 and Figure 3.
The analysis of the data confirmed that the seeds of the Hordeum vulgare L. culture, stored for more than 10 years, have reduced morphological and functional characteristics, so the percentage of germination for them is less than 50%. The choice of seeds with reduced morphofunctional characteristics is due to the presence of a large number of studies that use standard seeds with normative and permissible morphofunctional characteristics to study the phytotoxicity of selenium compounds. However, at low selenium concentrations, as shown in [53,54,55], these compounds do not exhibit toxic properties and normalize metabolic processes, being the main part of many selenium-containing enzymes, which can be found by the improving the morphofunctional parameters of seeds and young plants.
This work is a part of a series of laboratory studies aimed at studying the effect of nanoselene preparations on improving the morphofunctional parameters of seeds and plants in extreme conditions with high and low temperatures, high salinity of soils, low and high humidity, and many others. With subsequent field research and the formation of a regulatory and recommendatory framework for the use of selenium preparations in agriculture in regions with extreme environmental conditions, this allows one to neutralize the impact on agriculture of significant climatic fluctuations.
Since the preparation of selenium nanoparticles, stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid is a single bound system, the influence of individual components on the morphofunctional characteristics of seeds of Hordéum vulgáre was studied.
The dependencies of the measured morphological and functional characteristics of the treated seeds on the concentration of dressing agents are shown in Figure 4 and Table 3. For clarity of data presentation, instead of the actual concentration values on the X-axis, the decimal logarithm of the concentration was taken.
Figure 4A shows the dependencies of the root length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations.
The effect of the concentration of various seed dressing agents on the root length of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds is described by non-linear plots. When seeds were treated with ascorbic acid, selenous acid, preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, and PVP, the maximum root lengths reached at Lg(C) were equal to 1.66, 0.88, 0.67, and 1.88, respectively, which correspond to concentrations of 46.7, 7.6, 4.65, and 77.0 µg/mL. At these concentrations, a significant increase in root length (from 8 to 12 mm) as compared to the control group was recorded (p < 0.05). An increase in the concentration of the dressing agents led to a decrease in the length of the roots below the control group.
Figure 4B presents the dependencies of the shoot length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations.
In all samples, a similar tendency was observed: with a decrease in the concentration of active substances, an increase in the shoot length occurs. The greatest delay in growth was observed for selenous acid, which is in good agreement with the results described in [56,57], and confirms its high toxicity and the impossibility of using it as a selenium source.
At Lg(C) of selenium nanoparticles equal to 0.67, which corresponds to a concentration of 4.65 µg/mL, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) maximum shoot length was recorded; the excess over the control was more than 87%.
The dependence of the number of roots on the Lg(C) of seed dressing agents is presented in Figure 4C.
It was found that at the concentrations of ascorbic and selenous acids, nanoselenium, stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, and PVP equal to 12 590.0, 56.0, 465.0, and 77,000.0 µg/mL, respectively, there was an increase in the number of roots in comparison with the control group. It is also worth noting that in the samples with selenium nanoparticles in the Lg(C) range from 2.67 to 3.67 (465.0 to 4650.0 µg/mL), the values of the number of roots were lower than the control ones. However, these values are an order of magnitude higher than values for selenous acid (76.0–7600.0 µg/mL), which is associated with its toxic properties and characterizes the relatively lower toxicity of selenium nanoparticles.
This is confirmed in the works [58,59], which present studies of the phytotoxicity, accumulation and transformation of various forms of selenium in garlic: selenite (Se+4), selenate (Se+6) and selenium nanoparticles. The authors showed that the phytotoxicity of SeNP is much lower than that of selenite and selenate. It was found that, when treated with selenate and selenite at a concentration of 10 mg/L, there was a negative effect on the morphofunctional characteristics of the studied culture, but the inhibition of garlic growth by selenium nanoparticles occurred at a concentration of 50 mg/L. Compared to the control group, the biomass of the groups treated with selenate, selenite, and Se nanoparticles at 50 mg/L decreased by more than 50%, 30%, and 10%, respectively.
Figure 4D shows the dependence of the percentage of seed germination on the logarithm of the concentration of studied substances.
The highest value of germination percentage was obtained for the sample with nanoselenium at Lg(C) = 0.67, which corresponds to a concentration of 4.65 µg/mL (p < 0.05). With an increase in concentration in all samples, a decrease in the percentage of germination below the control group was observed, indicating a negative effect of the preparation on the morphofunctional characteristics of seeds at a concentration of more than 4.65 µg/mL.
The results of the intergroup analysis of variance of the data are summarized in Table 4.
Intergroup analysis of variance of the data allowed us to assess the reliability and significance of the results. Analysis of the root length in the samples of groups 1–4 showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) of this indicator with the control group. Taking into account the 25th and 75th percentiles, the values of the root length of the samples in groups 1–4 did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). A similar tendency was observed when analyzing the value of the number of roots in the samples. It was found that in the experimental samples the number of roots exceeded the number of roots in the control sample (p < 0.001). The highest median value of the number of roots in group 1 was 5.38 (5.0; 6.0) and in group 2 this was 5.28 (5.0; 6.0). The median shoot length in the nanoselenium group was 13.85 mm (0.0; 22.0).
As a result of the analysis of data on the length of sprouts, the prevalence of this indicator in groups 1, 3, and 4 from groups 2 and 5 was statistically and reliably established.
The most important indicator for assessing the quality of seeds is germination percentage. Analysis of statistically processed data shows that the maximum median value of the germination percentage parameter was achieved upon stimulation of germination by selenium nanoparticles—65.0% (64.0; 66.0). At the same time, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was established for all studied groups according to the criterion of germination percentage.
In general, and by the data obtained, the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid, synthesized in this work is less toxic than selenous acid. Additionally, by statistical analysis, the toxic dose of nanoselenium is 10 times more than the toxic dose of selenous acid. Hence, selenium nanoparticles can be widely used in agronomy and agriculture to provide plants with selenium, which is necessary for normal growth and development of crops.
Obtained data can be caused by many factors. The effect of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by PVP can inhibit the phytohormones and enzymes of seeds, affect the antioxidant potential, promote the destruction of morphological microstructures, or affect the output of membranes and nutrient channels [60,61]. An important role in the differentiation of the structural elements of roots and sprouts is played by the hormone auxin, which affects the processes of cell elongation. It is believed that free (physiologically active) auxin is a signal necessary for vascular differentiation [62]. Since the bound hormone is not involved in the differentiation of blood vessels, we assume that the violation of the orientation of structural elements in the experimental samples and the intensification of seed growth occurs as a result of the transformation of auxin from the bound form to the free one. Recently, it has been widely believed that auxin in combination with active oxygen forms are the main regulators of plant development under various stresses [63,64]. The concentration of auxin may decrease due to a reduction in the biosynthesis of the hormone with an increase in the content of reactive oxygen species, conjugation of the hormone, or due to its direct oxidation when oxidative stress occurs.
Thus, considering the results obtained in the framework of the study, a necessary step for further research is the histological and biochemical study of barley seeds treated with nanosized selenium. Scientific work in this direction will make it possible to determine the mechanisms of the influence of nanosized selenium on biochemical, morphological, and physiological processes occurring during seed germination and crop growth. Additionally, the study of the effect of selenium nanoparticles size on the morphological and functional properties of seeds is of great scientific interest. This will expand the knowledge about the fundamental aspects of the application of non-metal nanoparticles in sowing agricultural engineering.

4. Conclusions

A study of the effect of selenium nanoparticles on Hordeum vulgare L. seeds’ germination parameters was carried out. It was showed that there is a positive effect of Se nanoparticles on the length of shoots, roots, and the germination percentage. The highest seed germination percentage was recorded in the sample treated with the preparation of selenium nanoparticles at a concentration of 4.65 µg/mL.
According to the results, selenium nanoparticles can be used as a source of the essential microelement selenium for the seeds. Preparation of selenium nanoparticles in this study has less toxicity than the ionic forms of selenium, so it can be used to replenish selenium in a germinating seed and restore biochemical processes with its participation. In connection with the positive results of this study, it can be argued that this scientific direction is promising. Therefore, an urgent task is to study the effect of selenium nanoparticle preparations stabilized by other stabilizers, as well as to study the effect of selenium nanoparticles on the germination parameters of other popular agricultural crops, such as maize, rice, and soybeans. We aim to perform these studies in the near future.

Author Contributions

A.A.N., A.V.K. and S.A.S.; methodology, A.A.N. and A.A.B.; software, S.A.I.; validation, A.A.G. and V.V.R.; formal analysis, A.A.K.; investigation, D.G.M.; resources, S.A.S., A.V.S. and A.A.B.; data curation, A.V.B., S.A.S. and A.B.G.; writing—original draft preparation, A.V.S. and S.A.S.; writing—review and editing, D.G.M. and A.B.G.; visualization, A.V.K. and S.A.I.; supervision, V.V.R.; project administration, S.A.I. and S.A.S.; funding acquisition. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Acknowledgments

The studies were carried out using the equipment of the Shared Use Center of North-Caucasus Federal University.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Coatings 11 00862 g001 550
Figure 1. Synthesis of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid: (A) reaction of reduction of selenic acid with ascorbic acid to elemental selenium; (B) transformation of dehydroascorbic acid into oxalic acid; (C) structure of the double electric layer of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid; (D) schematic image of the polymer stabilization of selenium nanoparticles.
Figure 1. Synthesis of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid: (A) reaction of reduction of selenic acid with ascorbic acid to elemental selenium; (B) transformation of dehydroascorbic acid into oxalic acid; (C) structure of the double electric layer of the preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid; (D) schematic image of the polymer stabilization of selenium nanoparticles.
Coatings 11 00862 g001
Coatings 11 00862 g002 550
Figure 2. Elemental composition and structure of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid: (A) TEM micrograph; (B) histogram of distribution of hydrodynamic radius; (C) diffractogram; (D) absorption spectra of a selenium sol sample (1) and an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (2); (E) EDX spectra of the dried nanoselenium sol sample.
Figure 2. Elemental composition and structure of preparation of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa) and ascorbic acid: (A) TEM micrograph; (B) histogram of distribution of hydrodynamic radius; (C) diffractogram; (D) absorption spectra of a selenium sol sample (1) and an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (2); (E) EDX spectra of the dried nanoselenium sol sample.
Coatings 11 00862 g002
Coatings 11 00862 g003 550
Figure 3. Photographs of Hordeum vulgare seeds: (A) A sample of seeds of the Hordeum vulgare L. culture treated with Se nanoparticles in a petri dish; (B) a single germinated barley seed.
Figure 3. Photographs of Hordeum vulgare seeds: (A) A sample of seeds of the Hordeum vulgare L. culture treated with Se nanoparticles in a petri dish; (B) a single germinated barley seed.
Coatings 11 00862 g003
Coatings 11 00862 g004 550
Figure 4. Dependencies of morphological and functional characteristics of the treated seeds on the concentration of dressing agents (72 h incubation): (A) dependencies of the root length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations; (B) dependencies of the shoot length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations, (C) dependencies of the number of roots on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations, (D) dependencies of germination percentage on the logarithm of seed dressing agents’ concentrations (p < 0.05).
Figure 4. Dependencies of morphological and functional characteristics of the treated seeds on the concentration of dressing agents (72 h incubation): (A) dependencies of the root length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations; (B) dependencies of the shoot length on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations, (C) dependencies of the number of roots on the logarithm of the seed dressing agents’ concentrations, (D) dependencies of germination percentage on the logarithm of seed dressing agents’ concentrations (p < 0.05).
Coatings 11 00862 g004
Table
Table 1. Concentrations of substances in seed treatment solutions.
Table 1. Concentrations of substances in seed treatment solutions.
Dressing AgentConcentration, µg/mL
Ascorbic Acid4.746.7466.74666.746,666.7
Selenous acid0.767.676.0760.07600.0
Selenium nanoparticles0.4654.6546.5465.04650.0
PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa)7.777.0770.07700.077,000.0
Table
Table 2. Morphological and functional parameters of seed germination in water.
Table 2. Morphological and functional parameters of seed germination in water.
Num. of Control ProbePercentage of Germinated Seeds, %Number of RootsAverage Root Length, mmAverage Shoot Length, mm
144.98 ± 0.923.68 ± 0.5010.95 ± 2.037.41 ± 0.40
245.01 ± 0.073.62 ± 0.4910.99 ± 1.917.42 ± 0.56
345.06 ± 1.013.70 ± 0.5110.91 ± 1.877.38 ± 0.54
444.97 ± 0.933.68 ± 0.46 10.89 ± 1.987.43 ± 0.58
544.96 ± 1.083.69 ± 0.52 10.95 ± 1.867.40 ± 0.61
The data presented are the means of five replicates (n = 5) ± standard error. Number of seeds in one sample N = 100.
Table
Table 3. Influence of the dressing agent’s concentration on the morphological and functional characteristics of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds.
Table 3. Influence of the dressing agent’s concentration on the morphological and functional characteristics of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds.
Dressing AgentConcentration (C), μg/mLLg(C)Germination Percentage, %Root Length, mmShoot Length, mmNumber of Roots
Ascorbic acidControl—45.00 ± 1.00 ab10.94 ± 1.92 c7.40 ± 0.59 bc3.69 ± 0.47 d
4.7−2.3339.00 ± 1.58 b19.66 ± 3.10 a12.21 ± 2.95 de5.38 ± 0.63 a
46.7−1.3351.00 ± 3.15 a20.20 ± 3.42 a13.06±2.98 e5.18 ± 0.92 ab
466.7−0.3346.00 ± 2.47 a18.00 ± 3.90 a9.17 ± 1.83 cd5.42 ± 1.10 a
4666.70.6710.00 ± 2.30 d6.00 ± 1.58 b3.90 ± 1.38 ab4.70 ± 1.16 b
46666.71.673.00 ± 0.58 c2.67 ± 0.46 b0.00 ± 0.00 a2.00 ± 0.80 c
Selenous acidControl—45.00 ± 1.00 a10.94 ± 1.92 c7.40 ± 0.59 b3.69 ± 0.47 b
0.76−3.1245.00 ± 3.15 a16.51 ± 2.44 d8.09 ± 1.87 b4.94 ± 1.07 c
7.6−2.1254.00 ± 2.81 a20.24 ± 3.22 e5.56 ± 1.76 b5.28 ± 1.15 c
76.0−1.1223.00 ± 1.91 c4.52 ± 1.27 b1.30 ± 1.03 a3.22 ± 0.78 b
760.0−0.120.00 ± 0.00 b0.00 ± 0.00 a0.00 ± 0.00 a0.00 ± 0.00 a
7600.00.880.00 ± 0.00 b0.00 ± 0.00 a0.00 ± 0.00 a0.00 ± 0.00 a
Selenium nanoparticlesControl—45.00 ± 1.00 a10.94 ± 1.92 d7.40 ± 0.59 b3.69 ± 0.47 b
0.465−3.3343.00 ± 2.58 a19.70 ± 3.11 b13.35 ± 2.96 c5.58 ± 1.07 a
4.65−2.3365.00 ± 3.15 d24.07 ± 2.46 a13.85± 2.95 c4.98 ± 1.11 a
46.5−1.3337.00 ± 2.31 a16.95 ± 3.02 b9.46 ± 1.86 b5.30 ± 0.74 a
465.0−0.3314.00 ± 1.52 b5.93 ± 1.18 c1.14 ± 0.52 a3.68 ± 1.01 b
4650.00.670.00 ± 0.00 c0.00 ± 0.00 e0.00 ± 0.00 a0.00 ± 0.00 c
PVP C15 (8 ± 2 kDa)Control—45.00 ± 1.00 ab10.94 ± 1.92 b7.40 ± 0.59 ac3.69 ± 0.47 b
7.7−2.1140.00 ± 2.04 ab16.72 ± 2.68 a11.35± 1.89 ab4.55 ± 1.08 ab
77.0−1.1138.00 ± 1.83 ac20.01 ± 2.39 a12.87 ± 2.10 b5.53 ± 0.89 c
770.0−0.1151.00 ± 2.61 ab17.92 ± 2.02 a10.96 ± 2.27 ab5.18 ± 1.09 ac
7700.00.8952.00 ± 2.83 b18.13 ± 2.06 a8.19 ± 1.28 a4.94 ± 1.03 ac
77000.01.8926.00 ± 1.47 c9.62 ± 1.01 b2.08 ± 1.44 c4.31 ± 1.05 ab
The data presented are the means of five replicates (n = 5) ± standard error. Different letters indicate a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the samples within the group.
Table
Table 4. Comparison of statistical significance of differences in morphological and functional parameters of seed germination in different groups (intergroup ANOVA results) at concentration of 4.65 µg/mL.
Table 4. Comparison of statistical significance of differences in morphological and functional parameters of seed germination in different groups (intergroup ANOVA results) at concentration of 4.65 µg/mL.
Germination ParameterAscorbic Acid
(Group 1)		Selenous Acid
(Group 2)		Selenium Nanoparticles
(Group 3)		PVP
(Group 4)		Control
(Group 5)
Me2575Me2575Me2575Me2575Me2575
Root length19.66
***
●●
∆∆		19.6022.0020.24
***
∆∆∆		18.0026.0024.07
***
§§
∆∆∆		20.0029.0016.72
***
###
§§
●●●		14.4023.0010.94
###
●●●
§§§
∆∆∆		10.0112.25
Shoot length12.21
***
##		11.0014.008.56
●●
§		0.0014.0013.85
***
##		0.0022.0011.35
**		7.0016.007.44
●●●
§§§
∆∆		7.008.00
Number of roots5.38
***
∆		5.006.005.28
***
∆		5.006.004.98
***		5.006.004.55
***
#
§		4.556.003.69
###
●●●
§§§
∆∆∆		3.004.00
Germination percentage39.00
***
###
●●●		38.0040.0054.00
●●●
§§§
∆∆∆		52.0056.0065.00
***
###
§§§
∆∆∆		64.0066.0040.00
**
###
●●●		36.0044.0045.00
●●●
§§§
∆∆		44.0046.00
Significant differences from control (group 5) p < 0.05—*, p < 0.01—**, p < 0.001—***, differences from the group 1 p < 0.05—§, p < 0.01—§§, p < 0.001—§§§, differences from the group 2 p < 0.05—#, p < 0.01—##, p < 0.001—###, differences from the group 3 p < 0.05—●, p < 0.01—●●, p < 0.001—●●●, differences from the group 4 p < 0.05—∆, p < 0.01—∆∆, p < 0.001—∆∆∆. Differences between groups are considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
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Siddiqui, S.A.; Blinov, A.V.; Serov, A.V.; Gvozdenko, A.A.; Kravtsov, A.A.; Nagdalian, A.A.; Raffa, V.V.; Maglakelidze, D.G.; Blinova, A.A.; Kobina, A.V.; et al. Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on Germination of Hordéum Vulgáre Barley Seeds. Coatings 2021, 11, 862. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11070862

AMA Style

Siddiqui SA, Blinov AV, Serov AV, Gvozdenko AA, Kravtsov AA, Nagdalian AA, Raffa VV, Maglakelidze DG, Blinova AA, Kobina AV, et al. Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on Germination of Hordéum Vulgáre Barley Seeds. Coatings. 2021; 11(7):862. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11070862

Chicago/Turabian Style

Siddiqui, Shahida Anusha, Andrey Vladimirovich Blinov, Alexander Vladimirovich Serov, Alexey Alekseevich Gvozdenko, Alexander Aleksandrovich Kravtsov, Andrey Ashotovich Nagdalian, Vladislav Viktorovich Raffa, David Guramievich Maglakelidze, Anastasiya Alexandrovna Blinova, Anna Vitalievna Kobina, and et al. 2021. "Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on Germination of Hordéum Vulgáre Barley Seeds" Coatings 11, no. 7: 862. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11070862

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