Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important species for semiarid regions, such as Brazilian Northeast, where soil salinization and water quality is becoming a striking problem. Several research centers have evaluated the role of different compounds capable to induce changes in plant metabolism and improve salt tolerance. For some abiotic stress, selenium (Se) emerges as an alternative to activate plant defense responses; however, its involvement in tolerance to salt stress remain poorly

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... . Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous selenium application on the growth of sorghum plants under salt stress. Sorghum plants from CSF 20 (salt-tolerant) and CSF 18 (salt-sensitive) genotypes were grown in nutrient solutions containing sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) at 0 (control), 2, 4, 8 and 16 μM, and subjected to 75 mM NaCl-stress. The analyses were done after ten days of saline treatments. Overall, the benefits effects of Se were observed only in sorghum plants from salt-sensitive genotype, whereas no expressive modulation was registered in the salt tolerant one. Although leaf area and root dry mass were severely decreased by salt stress, the salt negative effects were almost completely abolished by 16 μM-Se supply in salt-sensitive genotype; nonetheless, the same responses were not observed for dry mass of leaves. In conclusion, selenium supply may constitute a strategy to overcome salt damage in S. bicolor growth depending on dose and plant genotype. KEYWORDS: Sorghum bicolor, leaf area, salinity EFEITOS DA APLICAÇÃO EXÓGENA DE SELÊNIO NO CRESCIMENTO DE PLANTAS DE SORGO SENSÍVEIS E TOLERANTES AO ESTRESSE SALINO RESUMO: O sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) é uma espécie importante para regiões semiáridas, como a do Nordeste brasileiro, onde a salinização dos solos e a da água são problemas graves.