Effect of Foliar Sodium Selenate and Nano Selenium Supply on Biochemical Characteristics, Essential Oil Accumulation and Mineral Composition of Artemisia annua L.

Abstract

Selenium (Se) biofortification of aromatic plants is a promising strategy to produce valuable functional food with high biological activity and enhanced essential oil yield. The experiment carried out in 2021 and 2022 on A. annua treated with sodium selenate or nano-Se sprayed on foliar apparatus demonstrated a significant increase in photosynthetic pigments, pectin, waxes, macro- and microelements and a decrease in malonic dialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Contrary to literature reports, neither selenate nor nano-Se showed a beneficial effect on essential oil accumulation; the oil yield did not differ between the selenate treated and control plants but was halved by the nano-Se application. Extremely high variations in the number of essential oil components, as well as in the eucalyptol, artemisia ketone, camphor and germacrene D ratio in the 2021 and 2022 experiments were recorded. The analysis of the 2016–2022 data for oil yield and composition in the control plants revealed a direct correlation between the number of components and of solar flares, and a negative correlation between oil yield and the percentage of spotless days. Both control plants and plants fortified with selenium showed higher levels of germacrene D and lower levels of artemisia ketone in 2022, characterized by more remarkable solar activity compared to 2021. Nano-Se supply resulted in the highest percentage of germacrene D accumulation. The results of the present research highlight the importance of the solar activity effect on the essential oil yield and quality of aromatic plants.

Review on Pesticide Abiotic Stress over Crop Health and Intervention by Various Biostimulants

“…175 Using selenium as a "plant health activator" is a promising new agricultural management approach that has the potential to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, improve the quality and yield of agricultural goods, and promote the creation of new agricultural products. 176,177 In the following sections, we will provide a review of responses to the research and application of two commonly used types of selenium: inorganic selenium and Nano-Se.…”

“…In conjunction with the aforementioned findings, the increasing research on selenium’s antioxidant properties may aid in improving the understanding of its involvement in immune activation and plant health management. − The detoxifying mechanism of selenium involves the functions of metallothionein, total mercaptan, and glutathione- S -transferase, which increase at low selenium concentrations but decrease at high selenium concentrations . Using selenium as a “plant health activator” is a promising new agricultural management approach that has the potential to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, improve the quality and yield of agricultural goods, and promote the creation of new agricultural products. , In the following sections, we will provide a review of responses to the research and application of two commonly used types of selenium: inorganic selenium and Nano-Se.…”