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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330495
Title: Selenium promotes sulfur accumulation and plant growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Author
item BOLDRIN, PAULO - Cornell University
item FIGUEIREDO, MARISLAINE - Cornell University
item Yang, Yong
item LUO, HONGMEI - Cornell University
item GIRI, SHREE - Cornell University
item Hart, Jonathan
item FAQUIN, VALDEMAR - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item GUILHERME, LUIZ - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item Thannhauser, Theodore - Ted
item Li, Li

Submitted to: Physiologia Plantarum
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2016
Publication Date: 6/9/2016
Citation: Boldrin, P.F., Figueiredo, M., Yang, Y., Luo, H., Giri, S., Hart, J.J., Faquin, V., Guilherme, L., Thannhauser, T.W., Li, L. 2016. Selenium promotes sulfur accumulation and plant growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Physiologia Plantarum. 158:80-91.

Interpretive Summary: Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and a target for biofortification in crops. In this study, we show the beneficial role of Se element to wheat plant growth. We found that low dosages of Se treatment stimulate over 3-fold accumulation of sulfur, an essential nutrient for vegetative growth and production of quality seeds. The Se-stimulated sulfur accumulation in wheat plant was found to be associated with increased expression of sulfur transporters. Our results show that Se mimics sulfur deficiency to stimulate sulfate uptake, resulting in the selenate-induced sulfur accumulation. These findings support that plant growth and nutrition benefit from low dosages of Se fertilization and provide information on the basis underlying Se-induced sulfur accumulation in plants.

Technical Abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for animals and humans and a target for biofortification in crops. Sulfur (S) is a crucial nutrient for plant growth. To gain better understanding of Se and S nutrition and interaction in plants, the effects of Se dosages and forms on plant growth as well as on S level in seven wheat lines were examined. Low dosages of both selenate and selenite supplements were found to enhance wheat shoot biomass and show no inhibitory effect on grain production. The stimulation on plant growth was correlated with increased APX antioxidant enzyme activity. Se forms were found to exert different effects on S metabolism in wheat plants. Selenate treatment promoted S accumulation, which was not observed with selenite supplement. An over threefold increase of S levels following selenate treatment at low dosages was observed in shoots of all wheat lines. Analysis of the sulfate transporter gene expression revealed an increased transcription of SULTR1;1, SULTR1;3 and SULTR4;1 in roots following 10 uM Na2SeO4 treatment. Mass spectrometry-based targeted protein quantification confirmed the gene expression results and showed enhanced protein levels. The results suggest that Se treatment mimics S deficiency to activate specific sulfate transporter expression to stimulate S uptake, resulting in the selenate-induced S accumulation. This study supports that plant growth and nutrition benefit from low dosages of Se fertilization and provides information on the basis underlying Se-induced S accumulation in plants.