Effects of Selenium and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Applications on Growth, Photosynthesis, and Selenium Accumulation of Amaranthus tricolor L.

  Objective   Amaranth cultivation enriched by applications of selenium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was investigated.

  Methods  In a pot experiment, selenium and AMF were added to the soil in cultivating Amaranthus tricolor L. seedlings. Effects on the photosynthesis, growth, and selenium accumulation of the plants were monitored.

  Results  The selenium treatment significantly increased the contents of chlorophyll a and b, transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (G_s), net photosynthetic rate (P_n), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i) but reduced the amaranthine and not significantly affected the infection rate of or dependence on the mycorrhizae of the seedlings. On the other hand, AMF along with the application of various selenium compounds promoted the amaranth growth and increased the leaf amaranthine content, photosynthetic capacity, and selenium accumulation in the roots, stems and leaves.

  Conclusion  Combined AMF and selenium applications benefited the photosynthesis and nutritional quality of A. tricolor.