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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382375
Research Project: Develop Water Management Strategies to Sustain Water Productivity and Protect Water Quality in Irrigated Agriculture

Location: Water Management Research

Title: Mechanisms underlying mercury detoxification in soil–plant systems after selenium application: A review

Author
item TRAN, THI ANH THU - Northwest A&f University
item DINH, QUANG TOAN - Northwest A&f University
item ZHOU, FEI - Northwest A&f University
item ZHAI, HUI - Northwest A&f University
item XUE, MINGYUE - Northwest A&f University
item DU, ZEKUN - Northwest A&f University
item Banuelos, Gary
item LIANG, DONGLI - Northwest A&f University

Submitted to: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2021
Publication Date: 7/12/2021
Citation: Tran, T., Dinh, Q., Zhou, F., Zhai, H., Xue, M., Du, Z., Banuelos, G.S., Liang, D. 2021. Mechanisms underlying mercury detoxification in soil–plant systems after selenium application: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 28:46852-46876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15048-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15048-1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mercury (Hg) is one of the most dangerous heavy metals (HM) because of its high toxicity to biological organisms even at low concentrations. It is ranked third among the 87 hazardous substances by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Mercury ions are easily taken up by plant roots and rapidly transported to edible plant parts. After accumulating in plants, Hg is readily biomagnified in the food chain and can threaten human health and the ecological environment. Feasible countermeasures to mitigate mercury (Hg) accumulation and deleterious effects on plants are urgently needed worldwide. Selenium (Se) fertilizer application is a potential cost-effective strategy to reduce Hg concentrations in plant tissue. It's use can promote agro-environmental sustainability and food safety, and decrease the public health risk posed by Hg-contaminated soils. This holistic review focuses on the processes and detoxification mechanisms of Hg in whole soil–plant systems after Se application. We systematically discuss the reduction of Hg bioavailability in soil, the interaction processes between Hg and Se on the interface of soil–plant root, and the reduction of root uptake and translocation of Hg after Se application. In addition, the positive responses in plant physiological and biochemical processes to Se application under Hg stress are presented to show the possible mechanisms that exist between Se and Hg. The effectiveness of Se application methods, rates, and species on Hg detoxification is compared. This review provides an informative approach for plant production in Hg-contaminated areas to meet food security demands.