Open Access

REVIEW

Recent Developments to Mitigate Selenium Deficiency in Agricultural Eco-Systems

Misbah Naz¹, Rubab Shabbir^2,17, Krishan K. Verma³, Anshu Rastogi⁴, Vishnu D. Rajput⁵, Talha Javed^2,6, Muhammad Ammar Raza⁷, Kainat Asif⁸, Muhammad Aamir Iqbal⁹, Muhammad Imran¹⁰, Mohammad Sohidul Islam¹¹, Khalid Rehman Hakeem^12,13,*, Mehmet Firat Baran¹⁴, Ayman EL Sabagh^15,16,*

1 Institute of Environment and Ecology School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 21201, China
2 College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
3 Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China
4 Laboratory of Bioclimatology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznań, 60-649, Poland
5 Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russia
6 Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
7 College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
8 Department of Soil and Environmental Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
9 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, 12350, Pakistan
10 Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, 12350, Pakistan
11 Department of Agronomy, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
12 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 22233, Saudi Arabia
13 Princess Dr. Najla Bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
14 Department of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, 56220, Turkey
15 Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Siirt University, Siirt, 56100, Turkey
16 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33156, Egypt
17 Seed Science and Technology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

* Corresponding Authors: Khalid Rehman Hakeem. Email: ; Ayman EL Sabagh. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2022, 91(5), 915-927. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.018688

Received 10 August 2021; Accepted 05 November 2021; Issue published 24 January 2022

Abstract

Under changing climate, trace elements like selenium (Se) have emerged as vital constituent of agro-ecosystems enabling crop plants to off-set the adverse effects of suboptimal growth conditions. The available form of selenium is important for boosting its bioavailability to crop plants having varied agro-botanical traits and root architectural systems. As compared to selenite, the selenate has a weaker soil bonding, higher absorption in the soil solution which results in a comparatively absorption by plant roots. Various factors including dry climate, high pH, optimal ambient air temperature, less accumulation of water, and low concentration of organic matter in the soil tend to boost the selenate ratio in the soil. The use of selenium pelleted seeds has emerged as an interesting and viable alternative to alleviate selenium deficiency in agricultural eco-systems. Similarly, the co-inoculation of a mixture of Selenobacteria and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi represents an evolving promising strategy for the bio-fortification of wheat plants to produce selenium-rich flour to supplement human dietary needs. Furthermore, in-depth research is required to assure the effectiveness of biological fertilization procedures in field conditions as well as to explore and increase our understanding pertaining to the underlying main mechanisms and channels of selenium absorption in plants. The focus of this review is to synthesize the recent developments on Se dynamics in soil-plant systems and emerging promising strategies to optimize its levels for crop plants. Recent developments regarding the use of micro-organisms as a biotechnological mean to enhance plant nutrition and crop quality have been objectively elaborated. The study becomes even more pertinent for arid and semi-arid agro-ecosystems owing to the potential role of selenium in providing stress tolerance to crop plants. Moreover, this review synthesizes and summarizes the recent developments on climate change and bioavailability, and the protective role of selenium in crop plants.

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