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Volume 11
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10.3390/horticulturae11101242
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Article

Foliar Selenium Application During Flowering and Fruiting Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Tomato Growth

by
Haixue Cui
1,2,3,
Yuan Zhong
2,3,
Huanhuan Li
2,3,
Xiaoman Qiang
2,3,
Lijian Sun
4,
Fukui Gao
2,3,
Gang Wang
1,* and
Hao Liu
2,3,*
1
College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
2
Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
3
Shangqiu Agro-Ecological System National Observation and Research Station, Shangqiu 476000, China
4
Henan Provincial People’s Victory Canal Support Center, Xinxiang 453000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101242
Submission received: 3 September 2025 / Revised: 7 October 2025 / Accepted: 11 October 2025 / Published: 14 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Biostimulants on the Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops)
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Abstract

Drought stress induced by climate change is a major limiting factor for crop growth. Selenium (Se) is recognized as an important exogenous regulator that can mitigate drought and other abiotic stresses, but the effects of Se application at different growth stages remain unclear. In this study, greenhouse-grown tomato plants were subjected to four Se treatments (T1: control; T2: Se at seedling stage; T3: Se at flowering stage; T4: Se at both stages) combined with three irrigation regimes (W1: 50–55%, W2: 65–70%, W3: 80–85% of field capacity). The impacts of Se timing on antioxidant enzymes, osmotic regulators, and growth parameters were evaluated. Drought stress induced oxidative damage, reduced photosynthesis, and inhibited biomass accumulation, while proline content increased with drought severity. Se application showed clear growth-stage specificity: under mild stress, Se at the flowering stage most effectively enhanced antioxidant activity, regulated proline metabolism, improved photosynthetic performance, and promoted growth. Dual-stage application did not provide additional benefits. These findings indicate that applying Se during the flowering and fruiting stage is optimal for alleviating drought-induced growth inhibition in tomato. The results contribute to understanding Se-mediated drought tolerance and may support the development of stage-specific Se fertilizer management strategies.
Keywords: antioxidant system; drought stress; enzymatic reaction; exogenous selenium; greenhouse tomato; photosynthesis antioxidant system; drought stress; enzymatic reaction; exogenous selenium; greenhouse tomato; photosynthesis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cui, H.; Zhong, Y.; Li, H.; Qiang, X.; Sun, L.; Gao, F.; Wang, G.; Liu, H. Foliar Selenium Application During Flowering and Fruiting Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Tomato Growth. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101242

AMA Style

Cui H, Zhong Y, Li H, Qiang X, Sun L, Gao F, Wang G, Liu H. Foliar Selenium Application During Flowering and Fruiting Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Tomato Growth. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(10):1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101242

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cui, Haixue, Yuan Zhong, Huanhuan Li, Xiaoman Qiang, Lijian Sun, Fukui Gao, Gang Wang, and Hao Liu. 2025. "Foliar Selenium Application During Flowering and Fruiting Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Tomato Growth" Horticulturae 11, no. 10: 1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101242

APA Style

Cui, H., Zhong, Y., Li, H., Qiang, X., Sun, L., Gao, F., Wang, G., & Liu, H. (2025). Foliar Selenium Application During Flowering and Fruiting Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage and Promotes Tomato Growth. Horticulturae, 11(10), 1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101242

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