Background and aimIn order to withstand abiotic stress conditions, plants accumulate a wide range of metabolic products such as proline and there exists a co-relation between proline accumulation and salt stress alleviation in plants, suggesting its role in stress mitigation and osmotic adjustments. MethodsIn this study we assessed the effect of Selenium (Se) under salt (NaCl) stress on Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), Proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) and Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT)

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... oteins using in silico and in vitro studies. ResultsBased on in silico analysis it was found that these enzymes demonstrated a better interaction with Se in comparison to NaCl. The predicted results implied the merit of using Se as a NaCl mitigant. The morphological results revealed a decline in the growth parameters of plants under NaCl stress in a dose dependent manner. However, the application of Se relieved the NaCl induced symptoms. It was found that 1µM Se mitigated the NaCl stress effectively and there was an increase in proline content. The transcriptomic studies also showed that Se up-regulated the expression of P5CS, ProDH and OAT. Based on above results Se fulfills the criteria as an excellent mitigant for exogenous application in proso millet during NaCl stress.ConclusionUnder salt stress, Se at lower concentration (1µM) functions as a mitigant to alleviate NaCl stress by regulating the synthesis of proline. Se has high binding affinities with proline biosynthesis enzymes, increasing their activities and expression, enhancing proline content and growth in proso millet.