Mitigation of the effect of drought on growth and yield of pomegranates by foliar spraying of different sizes of selenium nanoparticles

Abstract BACKGROUND Drought is a very important environmental stressor, which has negative effects on the growth of trees, decreasing their yield. The role of different‐sized selenium nanoparticles (Se‐NPs) in the mitigation of environmental stresses such as drought in crops has not yet been investigated. RESULTS Trees treated with Se‐NPs displayed higher levels of photosynthetic pigments, a better nutrient status, better physical parameters (especially fruit cracking) and chemical parameters, a higher phenolic content, and higher concentrations of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes, and abscisic acid than untreated trees under drought stress. Foliar spraying of 10 and 50 nm Se‐NPs alleviated many of the deleterious effects of drought in pomegranate leaves and fruits and this was achieved by reducing stress‐induced lipid peroxidation and H 2 O 2 content by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the 10 nm Se‐NPs treatment produced more noticeable effects than the treatment with 50 nm Se‐NPs. CONCLUSION Results confirm the positive effects of nanoparticle spraying, especially the role of 10 nm Se‐NPs in the management of negative effects of drought not only for pomegranates but potentially also for other crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.