Selenium-Mediated Stress Tolerance in Plants

Selenium is a trace element that, at low concentrations, enhances plant resilience to a variety of environmental stresses. It acts primarily through modulation of antioxidant defence systems, quenching reactive oxygen species and thereby minimising cellular damage. Selenium also influences osmotic adjustment by promoting the synthesis of compatible solutes, regulates ion transporter activity to maintain K⁺/Na⁺ balance under salinity, and modulates expression of stress-responsive genes. Both inorganic forms (selenate, selenite) and selenium nanoparticles have been employed via seed priming, soil amendment and foliar spray to improve germination, photosynthetic performance and biomass accumulation. Species as diverse as cereals, legumes, vegetables, medicinal and fruit crops have demonstrated enhanced drought and salinity tolerance following appropriate selenium treatment. Careful management of dosage and timing is crucial, as excessive selenium can be phytotoxic. Given mounting challenges of soil salinisation and water scarcity, selenium-mediated interventions offer a cost-effective means to bolster crop productivity and contribute to global food security.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that foliar application of selenium and nano-selenium on a medicinal verbena under salinity stress significantly increases growth parameters, chlorophyll content and relative water status. Treatment also elevates levels of osmolytes and antioxidant activity, reduces lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide accumulation, and limits sodium buildup in tissues, thereby improving essential oil yield and secondary metabolite profiles. Foundational work in a cereal model under high salinity has demonstrated that low-dose selenium application preserves chloroplast ultrastructure, boosts photosynthetic rate, enhances activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, and upregulates kinase-mediated antioxidant pathways. Concurrently, selenium treatment optimises shoot and root ion balance by increasing potassium retention in leaves and reducing sodium accumulation in roots through regulation of vacuolar Na⁺ compartmentalisation.

Selenium-Mediated Stress Tolerance in Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in selenium-mediated stress tolerance in plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage lipids, proteins and nucleic acids under stress.

Antioxidant enzymes: Proteins such as superoxide dismutase and catalase that catalyse detoxification of ROS to protect cellular structures.

Seed priming: Controlled hydration treatment of seeds before sowing to accelerate germination and improve stress tolerance.

Foliar application: Delivery of nutrients or bioactive agents directly to leaf surfaces through spraying for rapid uptake.

Nanoparticles: Ultra‐small particles (1–100 nm) that enhance delivery and bioavailability of compounds such as selenium in plants.

Ion homeostasis: Dynamic balance of ions like Na⁺ and K⁺ within tissues, critical for osmotic regulation and enzyme function under stress.

References

1. An Overview of Hazardous Impacts of Soil Salinity in Crops, Tolerance Mechanisms, and Amelioration through Selenium Supplementation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
2. Exogenous application of selenium and nano-selenium alleviates salt stress and improves secondary metabolites in lemon verbena under salinity stress. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Effect of exogenous selenium supply on photosynthesis, Na+ accumulation and antioxidative capacity of maize (Zea mays L.) under salinity stress. Scientific Reports (2017).
4. Modulatory effects of selenium nanoparticles against drought stress in some grapevine rootstock/scion combinations. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture (2024).
5. Selenium seed priming enhanced the growth of salt-stressed Brassica rapa L. through improving plant nutrition and the antioxidant system. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
6. Biochar and Selenium Nanoparticles Induce Water Transporter Genes for Sustaining Carbon Assimilation and Grain Production in Salt-Stressed Wheat. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2022).