Junyan Tian¹, Qingyuan Zhang¹, Lili Wu^1,2,*, Xia Hao^1,2, Guanggen Zeng¹, Wenwu Wang¹, Jingquan Zhang^1,2

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.23, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/cl.2026.076362 - 26 January 2026

Abstract The incorporation of the Se element in CdTe solar cells is critical, while the low bandgap CdSe_xTe_1−x, formed by the interdiffusion of CdTe and CdSe during device preparation, can promote the carrier lifetime. Different window layers formed by CdSe w/o MZO or CdS have different Se distributions. This paper systematically evaluates the influence of four types of window layers (CdSe, CdS/CdSe, MZO/CdSe and MZO/CdS/CdSe) on the performance of CdTe solar cells, and focuses on the correlation between the window layers and the Se distribution characteristic, carrier recombination mechanism, and device efficiency. The results show that CdSe… More >

Jazmín Montserrat Gaucin-Delgado¹, Cristian Oswaldo Solis-López², Pablo Preciado-Rangel³, Bernardo Espinosa-Palomeque⁴, Francisco Gerardo Veliz-Deras², Viridiana Contreras-Villarreal², Ricardo Israel Ramírez-Gottfried^5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3961-3973, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072536 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Selenium (Se) deficiency is a global health problem affecting more than 500 million people; crop biofortification is a sustainable strategy for its mitigation. This study investigated the effect of the application of selenate nanoparticles (SeO₄²⁻) and the combination of selenate (SeO₄²⁻) and chitosan (CS) (forming a SeO₄²⁻-CS complex) on the antioxidant profile, growth, biomass, bioactive compounds, enzymes, and Se accumulation of wheat (Triticum spp.) sprouts. Fourteen treatments were applied using a factorial design combining seven concentrations and two formulations: SeO₄²⁻ and SeO₄²⁻-CS. It was identified that chitosan increased Se uptake efficiency by 30% versus conventional selenate. The optimal… More >

Nadezhda Golubkina^1,*, Viktor Kharchenko¹, Ekaterina Krainyuk², Lubov Riff², Vladimir Lapchenko³, Helene Lapchenko³, Anastasia Moldovan¹, Uliana Plotnoikova⁴, Otilia Cristina Murariu⁵, Gianluca Caruso⁶

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 4139-4153, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.072328 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Despite their remarkable content of biologically active compounds, highly valuable for human health, wild relatives of Umbelliferous plants show limited utilization. The aim of the present work was the evaluation of the antioxidant status of Anthriscus, Chaerophyllum, and Myrrhoides species gathered in different climatic zones (from Mediterranean to Arctic) and of their suitability to produce valuable functional food for optimizing the human Se status. Among the Crimean plants, A. sylvestris, C. bulbosis, and M. nososa showed the highest antioxidant status, while the lowest was recorded in A. cerefolium and A. caucalis, displaying a significant correlation between the antioxidant activity (AOA) and polyphenols… More >

Nadezhda Golubkina^1,*, Pavel Poluboyarinov², Lyubov Skrypnik³, Agnieszka Sękara⁴, Otilia Cristina Murariu⁵, Gianluca Caruso⁶

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.12, pp. 3861-3877, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070988 - 29 December 2025

Abstract Circadian biorhythms are fundamental in plant adaptability and development. To reveal the effect of organic and inorganic forms of Se, foliar treatments of dandelion with 0.26 mM Se solutions were practiced in two contrasting day times: in the morning with the highest levels of leaf Se and polyphenol (TP) and the lowest dry matter, and in the evening with the opposite characteristics. Compared to the control, the morning Se supply demonstrated a higher increase of root biomass (1.27–1.37 times), Se (1.82–2.85 times), TP content (1.42–1.44 times), and antioxidant activity (AOA) (1.47–1.48 times) than the evening… More > Graphic Abstract

A. Ledesma-Juárez^a, J. F. Quintero-Guerrero^b, A. M. Fernández^a,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.2, pp. 97-108, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.222.97

Abstract The evaporation technique fabricates solar cells using the Cu(In, Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) absorber. This technique has strong limitations in preparing this absorber in a large area, necessitating the electrodeposition technique. However, the morphology and crystallinity of this absorber need to be sufficiently adequate to guarantee proper collection of charge carriers since a cauliflower-type growth is favored. This underscores the need for modifications during the synthesis, thermal treatments, and post-synthesis to improve the morphology and crystallinity, a complex and significant aspect of our research. This work discusses the structural, atomic composition, morphological, and optical results obtained for samples More >

Oscar Sariñana-Aldaco¹, Carmen Alicia Ayala-Contreras¹, Susana González-Morales², Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego³, Marissa Pérez-Alvarez³, América Berenice Morales-Díaz⁴, Dámaris Leopoldina Ojeda-Barrios⁵, José Gerardo Uresti-Porras⁶, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza^7,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.7, pp. 2131-2153, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.067577 - 31 July 2025

Abstract Selenium (Se) is a nutrient that is considered beneficial for plants, because its improvement in growth, yield and quality helps plants to mitigate stress. The objective of this research was to evaluate the application of sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃), nanoparticles (SeNPs) and microparticles (SeMPs) of Se in cucumber seedlings, via two experiments: one with seed priming and the other with foliar application of Se materials. The doses used were: 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 mg · L⁻¹, for each form of Se and for each form of application. Treatment 0 consisted of the application of… More >

T. Hesabizadeh^a, R. Subedi^a, T. J. Webster^b,c,d, G. Guisbiers^a,*

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.21, No.11, pp. 847-854, 2024, DOI:10.15251/CL.2024.2111.847

Abstract Amorphous selenium nanoparticles have been synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids. After undergoing a thermal treatment at 121°C for 60 minutes, the amorphous nanoparticles crystallized into trigonal ones. The antimicrobial properties of both amorphous and trigonal nanoparticles have been compared; and the amorphous ones displayed better antibacterial and antifungal properties compared to the trigonal ones. Specifically, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans were almost completely inhibited in the presence of amorphous selenium nanoparticles at 0.025 microgram/ml concentrations after 24 hours of in vitro culture, compared to controls (no nanoparticles). In summary, More >

Fenglan Zhao^1,2,#, Shuwen Wu^1,#, Xue Meng¹, Jianping Xue^1,2, Yongbo Duan^1,2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.7, pp. 1705-1716, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.052287 - 30 July 2024

Abstract Dōng líng căo, the dried aboveground parts of Isodon rubescens (Hemls.) Hara., is commonly consumed as a medicinal decoction or tea beverage. Natural beverages can be an important source of human dietary selenium (Se). However, how I. rubescens plants respond to exogenous Se remains unknown. In this study, a pot cultivation experiment was employed to investigate the phenotypic and physiological responses of I. rubescens plants exposed to Se. Fifteen days after applying different concentrations of sodium selenate to the soil, the Se enrichment capacity, growth indices, antioxidant capacities, and the content of flavonoids and diterpenoids were measured in… More >

Chengxu Qian¹, Qiangwen Chen^1,2, Leiyu Jiang¹, Xiaoyan Yang³, Shen Rao⁴, Weiwei Zhang¹, Feng Xu^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.5, pp. 951-962, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050893 - 28 May 2024

Abstract The objective of this study was to explain the physiological mechanisms through which NaSeO mitigates the growth and developmental inhibition of pakchoi under HgCl stress. The results showed that treatment with HgCl (40 mg L) led to reduced biomass, dwarfing, root shortening, and root tip necrosis in pakchoi. Compared to control (CK), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in Hg treatment increased, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) also dramatically increased, which negatively impacted the growth of pakchoi. Low concentrations of NaSeO (0.2 mg L) significantly increased the content of soluble sugars… More >

Fenglan Zhao¹, Jizhi Jin¹, Meng Yang¹, Franklin Eduardo Melo Santiago², Jianping Xue¹, Li Xu^3,*, Yongbo Duan^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.3, pp. 611-625, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.048295 - 28 March 2024

Abstract

Seed germination with selenium (Se) is promising for producing Se-biofortified foods. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) sprout is freshly eaten as a salad dressed with sauce, making it superior for Se biofortification. Since the Se safety range for the human body is extremely narrow, it is imperative to evaluate the genotypic responses of mungbean sprouts to Se. This study evaluated the Se enrichment capacity and interaction with flavonoids and antioxidant systems in sprouts of 20 mungbean germplasms. Selenium treatment was done by immersing mungbean seeds in 20 μM sodium selenite solution for 8 h. Afterward, the

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