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Effects of foliar applications of zinc sulphate and selenite on the content of amino acid profiles in flour. Different letters above the columns indicate the significant differences of total amino acids among all treatments across years (p < 0.05). Error bars denote the standard deviation, n = 4
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Combined foliar application of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and selenium (Se) has been practiced in wheat biofortification. However, it remains elusive that whether the combined application affects Zn and Se distribution to grain, the efficacy of biofortification and bioavailability in wheat, due to the accompanying sulphate sources. Selenite and ZnSO4 we...
Citations
... In addition, low doses of applied Se promoted Zn enrichment in strawberries, which was instead inhibited by the application of high Se doses. These results are in agreement with those of Ning et al. [43], who reported that foliar application of a Zn-Se compound reduced Se density compared to Se alone, reflecting an antagonistic effect of Zn on Se biofortification in wheat. However, Germ et al. [44] showed that foliar Zn-Se compound application increases Se content in wheat grains more effectively than Se alone. ...
In this study, we evaluated zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) biofortification in strawberry fruits under substrate and soil cultivation, along with their effects on mineral element accumulation and fruit quality. To achieve this, foliar Zn (0.1% and 0.2%) and Se (0.003% and 0.006%) fertilizers were applied separately or in combination at the initial flowering stage. The Zn and Se contents in strawberry fruits increased with the spraying dosage. Compared to the control, the Zn content in the first batch of Zn-treated strawberries increased by 36.9–109% and 27.1–102% under substrate and soil cultivation, respectively, while Se increased by 313–444% and 21.3–53.3%, respectively. However, foliar Zn application could not ensure long-term sustainability as Zn in strawberries gradually decreased in the two subsequent batches, while Se was more stable. Compared to the control, the Se content in the three batches of Se2 (0.006%)-treated strawberries grown in soil increased by 32.9%, 124%, and 109%, respectively. Meanwhile, compared to Se alone, the Zn–Se combined application decreased the Se content in strawberries by 61.2–77.6% and 24.9–45.7% under substrate and soil cultivation, respectively, while low doses of Se promoted Zn enrichment (by 8.62–40.9%) and high doses inhibited it (by 13.2–28.9%) under substrate cultivation. Moreover, the copper content in strawberries under substrate cultivation after the Se1 (0.003%) treatment was significantly higher (by 75.0%) than that in the control. A positive correlation was observed between Cu and Zn contents in strawberries under both substrate and soil cultivation. A consistent positive impact was also observed on fruit quality. The Se2 (0.006%) treatment caused an increase in ascorbic acid content (by 37.2%) in strawberry fruits. The soluble sugar content increased by 36.3% after the Zn1 (0.1%) treatment. The present study provides a practical basis for the biofortification of strawberries with Zn and Se.
Using beneficial microorganisms along with sustainable strategies such as agronomic biofortification offers eco-friendly alternatives to combat climate change in ecosystems like dehesas. This study analyzes the combined effects of four wild Trichoderma spp. isolated from Extremadura, Spain (T. koningiopsis, two T. gamsii, and T. koningii, with negative and positive controls) and four Zn biofortification treatments (no Zn application; soil application of 5 mg of ZnSO4·7H2O per kg of soil, labeled soil Zn; two foliar applications of 5 mL 0.5% ZnSO4·7H2O, labeled foliar Zn; and soil + foliar combination, labeled SF) on Trifolium subterraneum performance. The combination of T. koningiopsis and T. gamsii with foliar Zn improved plant growth by up to 34.4%. Zinc accumulation was about 30% higher when T. gamsii and T. koningii were applied with SF, and their inoculation resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in ash. Trichoderma spp. affected nodulation differently; both T. gamsii inhibited nodulation by 24%, whereas neither T. koningiopsis nor T. koningii showed differences from the controls. These results highlight the potential of combining beneficial microorganisms with biofortification strategies to address nutrient deficiencies and improve agricultural sustainability. However, the complex interactions between both factors underscore the importance of strain selection and call for further research to optimize application strategies and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for both human and animals. Plants serve as the primary source of Se
in the food chain. Se concentration and availability in plants is influenced by soil properties and environmental
conditions. Optimal Se levels promote plant growth and enhance stress tolerance, while excessive Se concen
tration can result in toxicity. Se enhances plants ROS scavenging ability by promoting antioxidant compound
synthesis. The ability of Se to maintain redox balance depends upon ROS compounds, stress conditions and Se
application rate. Furthermore, Se-dependent antioxidant compound synthesis is critically reliant on plant macro
and micro nutritional status. As these nutrients are fundamental for different co-factors and amino acid synthesis.
Additionally, phytohormones also interact with Se to promote plant growth. Hence, utilization of phytohormones
and modified crop nutrition can improve Se-dependent crop growth and plant stress tolerance. This review aims
to explore the assimilation of Se into plant proteins, its intricate effect on plant redox status, and the specific
interactions between Se and phytohormones. Furthermore, we highlight the proposed physiological and genetic
mechanisms underlying Se-mediated phytohormone-dependent plant growth modulation and identified research
opportunities that could contribute to sustainable agricultural production in the future.
As an essential element for plants, animals, and humans, selenium (Se) has been shown to participate in microbial methane oxidation. We studied the growth response and rhizosphere methane oxidation of an economic crop (prickly pear, Rosa roxburghii Tratt) through three treatments (Se0.6 mg/kg, Se2.0 mg/kg, and Se10 mg/kg) and a control (Se0 mg/kg) in a two-month pot experiment. The results showed that the height, total biomass, root biomass, and leaf biomass of prickly pear were significantly increased in the Se0.6 and Se2.0 treatments. The root-to-shoot ratio of prickly pear reached a maximum value in the Se2 treatment. The leaf carotenoid contents significantly increased in the three treatments. Antioxidant activities significantly increased in the Se0.6 and Se2 treatments. Low Se contents (0.6, 2 mg/kg) promoted root growth, including dry weight, length, surface area, volume, and root activity. There was a significant linear relationship between root and aboveground Se contents. The Se translocation factor increased as the soil Se content increased, ranging from 0.173 to 0.288. The application of Se can improve the state of rhizosphere soil’s organic C and soil nutrients (N, P, and K). Se significantly promoted the methane oxidation rate in rhizosphere soils, and the Se10 treatment showed the highest methane oxidation rate. The soil Se gradients led to differentiation in the growth, rhizosphere soil properties, and methane oxidation capacity of prickly pear. The root Se content and Se translocation factor were significantly positively correlated with the methane oxidation rate. Prickly pear can accumulate Se when grown in Se-enriched soil. The 2 mg/kg Se soil treatment enhanced growth and methane oxidation in the rhizosphere soil of prickly pear.
Cordyceps cicadae is an edible mushroom. Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) are essential microelements for humans. To develop Se–Zn biofortification strategies for C. cicadae, the effects of three Se species (selenium nanoparticles, selenite, and selenate) and two Zn species (zinc sulfate and EDTA-zinc) on biomass, mineral elements, mannitol, adenosine, cordycepin, and bioaccessibility were investigated. The fruiting bodies had significant bioaccumulation and biotransformation ability for selenite, which converted selenium nanoparticles, selenite, and selenate into selenocysteine (63.5–70.2%) and selenomethionine (20.4–27.7%). Selenite and selenate eliminated inhibition of fruiting bodies growth by zinc. The synthesis of mannitol and adenosine was promoted by Se–Zn biofortification, while interfering with multi-elements enrichment. During gastrointestinal digestion, over 57.1% of total Se, 41.3% of essential microelements, 100% of selenomethionine, and 6.0% of selenocysteine were released. The release of adenosine and cordycepin in selenite plus zinc sulfate treatment were increased by 21.9% and 106.0% compared with control. The findings indicate that Se–Zn-enriched C. cicadae is a novel Se and Zn supplement.
Trace elements play a crucial role in the growth and health of organisms. Imaging the distribution of trace elements in organisms at micron resolution scale can reveal the chemical form and transfer mechanism of trace elements in organisms and their influence on the growth of organisms. In the present study, we used a high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer (NanoSIMS) to image the trace elements zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) in the wheat grain and analyzed the chemical form of Zn. The NanoSIMS images indicate that the micro-distributions of Zn, Fe, Mg and K in the wheat grain are similar, especially for Zn and Fe, mostly in the phytate granules of the aleurone and closely associated with P and H–O. Besides being distributed in phytate granules, some or a small amount of Mg and K are also distributed in starch granules of the endosperm. The S and C–N distributions are very similar, mainly in the protein matrix of the endosperm and aleurone. P and H–O, rather than S and C–N, are the two dominant ligands to Zn, Fe, K and Mg in wheat grain. The dominant chemical form of Zn and Fe in the wheat grain is in the phytate, not the protein. The P is crucial to Zn, Fe, Mg and K accumulation in the wheat, and agricultural producers should pay special attention to adjust the application of P fertilizer to affect the concentrations of Zn in the crop. In situ imaging of NanoSIMS can elucidate the relations between trace elements in grain samples with clear visualization, and it also has great significance in chemical analysis, crop breeding and environmental monitoring.
