Effect of selenium on alleviating oxidative stress in pea leaves caused by pea aphid feeding

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of selenium in Pisum sativum L. plants pre-treated with sodium selenite or sodium selenate at a concentration of 10 and 20 μM, and then colonized by pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). It has been hypothesized that selenium at low concentrations alleviates oxidative stress caused by aphid feeding on pea leaves. The study focused on the generation of reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical), the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) scavenging the reactive oxygen species levels, as well as on total antioxidant activity in pea leaves. Selenium in pea leaves exposed to aphid feeding affected changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species, the activity of studied antioxidant enzymes, and the total antioxidant capacity. Effects depended on the form and concentration of selenium, as well as on the time after the colonization of pea plants by aphids. Obtained results showed beneficial effects of selenium in alleviating oxidative stress in pea leaves caused by aphid feeding.