Exogenously applied selenium reduces oxidative stress and induces heat tolerance in spring wheat

• The HS altered antioxidative potential, affected growth and grain yield.
• Exogenous low Se modulated growth and photosynthetic pigments under HS.
• Foliar high Se dose reduced oxidative stress and enhanced grain yield under HS.
• The Se-mediated up-regulation of antioxidants under HS increased fertility.

Heat stress (HS) is a worldwide threat to productivity of wheat, especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Earlier studies suggested the beneficial effects of selenium (Se) on the growth of some crop species grown under stressful environments. In the present study, we assessed whether Se application could increase antioxidative potential, and thus enhance tolerance to heat in wheat at the sensitive stage i.e., heading stage. At the heading stage, after foliar application of sodium selenate solutions (0, 2 and 4 mg Se L−1), the plants of wheat cultivars, namely Chakwal-97 (drought tolerant) and Faisalabad-08 (drought sensitive), were subjected to HS (38 ± 2 °C). The HS significantly altered antioxidative potential, affected growth, photosynthetic pigments and grain yield in both cultivars. Exogenous application of low (2 mg L−1) Se increased chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents and modulated the growth of wheat plants under HS. However, high concentration (4 mg L−1) of Se was much more effective in increasing grains per spike and grain yield in heat stressed plants of both wheat cultivars. Exogenous Se increased both enzymatic (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities) and non-enzymatic (carotenoids, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid contents) antioxidants while decreased oxidants (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents) under HS in both wheat cultivars. In conclusion, foliar application of Se (4 mg L−1) was much more effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of HS on grain yield of wheat plants. The results suggested that Se-mediated up-regulation of antioxidative system (both enzymatic and non-enzymatic) helped the wheat plants to increase fertility, and hence avoid reduction of grain yield under HS.