Selenium Mitigates Salt Stress in Mung Bean ( <i>Vigna radiata</i> (L.) R. Wilczek): A Study on Germination, Root Growth, and Antioxidant Defense Activation

This study investigated whether the application of selenium alleviates salt stress in mung beans. Control plants were treated with Hoagland nutrient solution. Salt‐stressed groups were treated with 50 mM (S1), 75 mM (S2), and 100 mM (S3) sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively. Selenium was administered in the form of sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 ) at concentrations of 2 μM (Se1), 4 μM (Se2), and 8 μM (Se3), and was applied to both control and salt‐stressed plants. Growth parameters and oxidative stress markers in mung beans were evaluated. NaCl application was found to decrease germination percentage and root length. Germination percentages in the S1 + Se2 and S1 + Se3 groups were higher than in the S1 group; however, root lengths in these groups did not differ significantly from that of the S1 group. A strong correlation was observed between seed germination and root elongation. According to the results of principal component analysis, the data were grouped into two components (PC1 and PC2). Based on the PC2 component, the S2 + Se1, S2 + Se3, S3 + Se1, and S3 + Se2 groups showed an inverse correlation with the S1, S2, and S3 groups. Our findings indicate that salt stress negatively affects mung bean growth, whereas selenium application is beneficial only under moderate salt stress conditions.