Selenium Nanoparticles—an Inducer of Tomato Resistance to the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White, 1919) Chitwood 1949

Abstract

We investigated the mechanisms of action of selenium nanoparticles obtained by laser ablation for their use as an abiogenic elicitor of tomato resistance to parasitic nematodes. Selenium nanoparticles induced systemic resistance of tomatoes to the root-knot nematode, stimulated plant growth and development, was involved in the PR-6 gene expression in the roots and leaves of plants subjected to invasion, and increased the activity of proteinase inhibitors (markers of systemic resistance of plants to infection). Exogenous treatment of plants with solutions of selenium nanoparticles reduced the invasion of plants by affecting the morphological and physiological parameters of the parasites in the roots.