Boosting Grapevine Growth and Selenium Uptake with Plant Hormones

Jenn Hoskins
21st May, 2024

Boosting Grapevine Growth and Selenium Uptake with Plant Hormones

Biomass (dry weight) of grapevine. A: root biomass; B: shoot biomass.

Image adapted from: Wang et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • The study by Sichuan Agricultural University found that applying indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to grapevines under selenium (Se) stress increased their biomass
  • IAA application enhanced the levels of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzyme activities in grapevines, helping them manage selenium-induced oxidative stress
  • Exogenous IAA also increased the total selenium content in grapevine roots and shoots, improving selenium uptake and accumulation
Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for human health, playing critical roles in antioxidant defense, redox state regulation, and various metabolic pathways[2][3]. Despite its benefits, excessive selenium can be toxic to plants, leading to reduced growth and oxidative stress[4]. A recent study by Sichuan Agricultural University investigated how the application of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant hormone, can alleviate selenium stress in grapevines and improve selenium accumulation[1]. The study found that applying IAA significantly increased the biomass of grapevines. Specifically, the root and shoot biomass reached their maximum at a concentration of 60 mg Lāˆ’1 IAA, showing increases of 15.61% and 23.95%, respectively, compared to the control group. This suggests that IAA can mitigate the negative effects of selenium stress, promoting healthier growth in grapevines. In addition to boosting biomass, exogenous IAA enhanced the levels of photosynthetic pigments and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in grapevines. This aligns with previous findings that selenium can disrupt oxidative metabolism and antioxidant systems in plants[4]. By improving the antioxidant capacity, IAA helps grapevines better manage selenium-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, the study revealed that exogenous IAA increased the contents of total selenium, organic selenium, and inorganic selenium in grapevines. The highest concentrations of total selenium in roots and shoots were observed at 90 mg Lāˆ’1 IAA, with increases of 29.94% and 55.77%, respectively. This indicates that IAA not only alleviates selenium stress but also enhances selenium uptake and accumulation in grapevines. The correlation and path analyses conducted in the study showed that carotenoid content and root total selenium content were closely associated with shoot total selenium content. Carotenoids, which are pigments involved in photosynthesis, may play a role in selenium metabolism, further highlighting the complex interactions between different plant compounds in response to selenium stress. These findings are significant as they suggest a potential strategy for improving selenium accumulation in fruit trees, which can be beneficial for human nutrition. Selenium is crucial for immune function, cognitive health, and reproductive success[3]. Enhancing selenium content in crops through biofortification could help address selenium deficiencies in human diets[5]. The study by Sichuan Agricultural University builds on previous research by demonstrating a practical method to mitigate selenium toxicity in plants while enhancing selenium uptake. This approach could be particularly valuable in regions where soil selenium levels are either deficient or excessive, affecting both plant health and human nutrition. In summary, the application of exogenous IAA offers a promising solution to alleviate selenium stress in grapevines and improve selenium accumulation. By increasing biomass, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and boosting selenium uptake, IAA helps grapevines better cope with selenium stress, providing a potential pathway for biofortification and improved human health outcomes.

AgricultureBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Exogenous indole-3-acetic acid promotes the plant growth and accumulation of selenium in grapevine under selenium stress

Published 20th May, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05105-5

Related Studies

2) Selenium biochemistry and its role for human health.

https://doi.org/10.1039/c3mt00185g

4) Phenotypical, physiological and biochemical analyses provide insight into selenium-induced phytotoxicity in rice plants.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.046

5) Selenium Biofortification: Roles, Mechanisms, Responses and Prospects.

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040881


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