Selenium nanoparticles affected growth and secondary metabolism in chicory seedlings epigenetically by modifying DNA methylation and transcriptionally by upregulating DREB1A transcription factor and stimulating genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism.

In this biosafety risk assessment project, the molecular and physiological responses of chicory seedlings to the introduction of selenate (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 mgl) or nanoscale red elemental Se product (nSe) into the culture medium were investigated.