title: Microbial-enhanced Selenium and Iron Biofortification of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)--Applications in Phytoremediation and Biofortification.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and other mammals. Most dietary Se is derived from crops. To develop a Se biofortification strategy for wheat, the effect of selenate fertilization and bacterial inoculation on Se uptake and plant growth was investigated. YAM2, a bacterium with 99% similarity to Bacillus pichinotyi, showed many plant growth promoting characteristics. Inoculation with YAM2 enhanced wheat growth, both in the presence and absence of selenate: YAM2-inoculated plants showed significantly higher dry weight, shoot length and spike length compared to un-inoculated plants. Selenate also stimulated wheat growth; Un-inoculated Se-treated plants showed a significantly higher dry weight and shoot length compared to control plants without Se. Bacterial inoculation significantly enhanced Se concentration in wheat kernels (167%) and stems (252%), as well as iron (Fe) levels in kernels (70%) and stems (147%), compared to un-inoculated plants. Inoculated Se-treated plants showed a significant increase in acid phosphatase activity, which may have contributed to the enhanced growth. In conclusion; Inoculation with Bacillus sp. YAM2 is a promising Se biofortification strategy for wheat and potentially other crops.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of the Punjab , Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.forename: Ali Farag
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: El-Mehdawi
authors.forename: Aneela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Elizabeth A H
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pilon-Smits
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faisal
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D007501:Iron; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Bacillus pichinotyi; ICP-AES; micronutrients; wheat biofortification