engleski

Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of wheat seedlings response to selenium

Selenium (Se) deficiency in human and animal nutrition is primarily due to low levels of Se in soils. It can be prevented by enriching crops, such as wheat, with Se by genetic and agronomic biofortification. Although Se is not essential for plants, it shows a double effect on their metabolism. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of five different concentrations (0.4, 4, 20, 40 and 400 mg kg1) of selenate and selenite on the oxidative status and detoxifying systems of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Kraljica) shoots and roots and to determine biochemical and molecular tissue-specific responses. According to morpho-physiological analyses, selenite was found to have a lower toxicity threshold than selenate. Measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers showed that Se did not cause oxidative damage to wheat seedlings due to activation of detoxification mechanisms at the biochemical and molecular level, which depended on the type of tissue, concentration and form of applied Se. These results contribute to a better understanding of wheat seedlings' physiological, biochemical, and molecular response to Se and the development of more effective biofortification strategies.

selenium ; biofortification ; wheat ; detoxification mechanism

nije evidentirano