| Selenium (Se) is an essential element for many organisms, although in high concentrations it may become toxic, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, bean plants received different application rates of Se (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μM) in the form of selenite and selenate to evaluate the activity of the detoxifying enzymes of H2O2. The results indicated that the activity of these enzymes in bean plants depended on the chemical form of Se: selenite at rates of 20 μM or greater diminished biomass and yield, increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Even when catalase (CAT) activity also increased, it appeared that it was efcient at detoxifying H2O2 in the presence of Se, given also the rise... |
