title: Selenium promotes sulfur accumulation and plant growth in wheat (Triticum aestivum).
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 μM Na2 SeO4 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.
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Boldrin
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marislaine A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Shree
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valdemar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Faquin
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz R G
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Theorodore W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Thannhauser
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.|Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018977:Micronutrients; D013455:Sulfur; D012643:Selenium