This study aimed to assess the effects of low-temperature stress on two tomato cultivars (S-22 and PKM-1) treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) and selenium (Se) by determining the changes in the proteomics profiles, growth biomarkers, biochemical parameters, and physiological functions. The growth parameters, photosynthetic traits, and activity of nitrate reductase in the S-22 and PKM-1 plants were markedly reduced by exposure to low temperatures. However, the combined application of EBL and Se under different modes significantly enhanced the aforementioned parameters under stress and non-stress conditions. Exposure to low temperatures increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) and the proline content of leaves, which were further enhanced by treatment with Se and EBL in both varieties. This research sheds light on the potential for employing exogenous EBL and Se as crucial biochemical tactics to assist tomato plants in surviving low-temperature stress. Moreover, the differentially expressed proteins that were involved in plant metabolism following the combined application of EBL and Se under low-temperature stress were additionally identified. Functional analysis revealed that the Q54YH4 protein plays an active role against plant stressors. The conserved regions in the protein sequences were analyzed for assessing the reliability of plant responses against the external application of EBL and Se under low temperatures.
Keywords: 2-DE; Se; antioxidants; brassinosteroids; low-temperature; proteomics.