Joint Biofortification of Plants with Selenium and Iodine: New Field of Discoveries

Abstract

The essentiality of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) to human beings and the widespread areas of selenium and iodine deficiency determine the high significance of functional food production with high levels of these elements. In this respect, joint biofortification of agricultural crops with Se and I is especially attractive. Nevertheless, in practice this topic has raised many problems connected with the possible utilization of many Se and I chemical forms, different doses and biofortification methods, and the existence of wide species and varietal differences. The limited reports relevant to this subject and the multiplicity of unsolved questions urge the need for an adequate evaluation of the results obtained up-to-date, useful for developing further future investigations. The present review discusses the outcome of joint plant Se–I biofortification, as well as factors affecting Se and I accumulation in plants, paying special attention to unsolved issues. A particular focus has been given to the prospects of herb sprouts production enriched with Se and I, as well as the interactions between the latter microelements and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).

Iodine and Selenium Biofortification of Chervil Plants Treated with Silicon Nanoparticles

“…Se, I, and bulk and nano-Si are able to increase the plant antioxidant status, providing resistance to stress factors [1,13]. The lack of significant stress factors in the present experiment may be the reason of the low changes in the antioxidant status of chervil subjected to different treatments (Table 3).…”

“…Among the micro-elements which are essential for human beings and beneficial for plants, selenium (Se) and iodine (I) have special importance, mainly for their participation in the growth and development of all living beings, antioxidant properties, immunity optimization and protection against biotic and abiotic stresses [1]. Iodine (I) and Se deficiency are common in many worldwide areas, increasing the risk of viral (including COVID-19), oncological and cardiovascular diseases, negatively affecting fertility and restricting cognitive abilities [2][3][4].…”

“…Plants 2021, 10, 2528 2 of 18 these elements [1]. The micro-elements Se and I demonstrate growth stimulating properties in plants, but the range of their beneficial effect is rather narrow and specific for each species, which causes serious problems in the industrial application of the biofortification method [1].…”

“…Plants 2021, 10, 2528 2 of 18 these elements [1]. The micro-elements Se and I demonstrate growth stimulating properties in plants, but the range of their beneficial effect is rather narrow and specific for each species, which causes serious problems in the industrial application of the biofortification method [1]. However, low doses of Se fertilizers in a national Finnish experiment [8] revealed high possibilities of such an approach in optimizing human Se status.…”

“…To improve the efficiency of joint Se-I biofortification, phytohormones (salicylic acid [9]) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [10] were applied, while vanadium (V) was proposed for increasing I accumulation in plants [1,11]. Such approaches provided moderate improvement of plant growth and a relatively moderate increase in I levels due to the sensitivity of most plants to the toxic effect of a high I dose.…”