Exogenous application of selenium on growth and antioxidant capacity of Pisum sativum L. under cadmium stress

1. Heavy metals pose a serious threat to the environment and human health.
2. Cadmium is a highly persistent toxic metal that is present in agricultural fields due to industrial and anthropogenic activities.
3. The present study investigates the effect of sodium selenate on the growth and physiological parameters of Pisum sativum L. under cadmium stress.
4. The application of sodium selenate significantly enhances root and shoot length, biomass, and physiological attributes such as chlorophyll, sugar, proline, protein, and total antioxidant contents in pea plants.
5. Sodium selenate can protect pea plants against cadmium toxicity.
6. The highest total antioxidant content was reported in the Cd (20 mM) + SS (5 μM) treatment.
7. Sodium selenate can be used as a plant growth promoter for the growth of pea plants under cadmium stress.