Fertilization of Peanut with Selenium

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is identified as an antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic and increasing Se the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plant could benefit human and animal health. In 2006, Se was applied to soil at two locations and four concentrations to determine Se concentration in the peanut plant. Selenium (Sodium Selenite) was applied at rates of 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10 mg Se/kg soil. Prior to harvest, plant samples were collected, washed, partitioned, dried, and ground to pass through a 2 mm sieve and analyzed for Se. Composite soil samples were taken prior to peanut digging, air dried, and analyzed for Se. In general, the higher the concentration of Se applied to the soil the higher the concentration of Se in peanut leaf, stem, root, peg, kernel, and hull. There was no difference in Se concentration between sites for leaf, stem, root, or pegs. There was a difference of Se with hulls and kernels between sites possibly attributed to soil series. Pooled data over both sites showed the untreated areas had an average 0.495 mg Se/kg kernel. The 0.5Se and 1Se treatment had an average Se concentration of 3.97 mg Se/kg kernel which could decrease the quantity of peanuts a person would need to consume from 760 to 14 g/day to get the needed requirement of Se. The treatments 5Se and 10Se averaged 16.1 mg Se/kg kernel. Adding Se to the soil can increase Se in the peanut kernel and plant which could be beneficial to human and/or animal health. However, application of high grade Se to peanut land at 0.5 mg Se/kg would cost about $526/ha which may not be economical for the grower.

Germinating Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seedlings Attenuated Selenite-Induced Toxicity by Activating the Antioxidant Enzymes and Mediating the Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle

“…Selenite can be used as a Se fertilizer to enhance the Se nutrition level of crops; research shows that 5− 10 mg/kg selenite treatments in the soil can increase by an average of 16.1 mg Se/kg in the peanut kernel. 18 Nevertheless, excessive selenite would cause toxicity in peanut seedlings. As shown in Figure 2A,B, peanut seedlings growing on high concentrations of selenite (12 and 24 mg/L) showed some visible toxic symptoms such as stunted growth.…”

“…Selenite can be used as a Se fertilizer to enhance the Se nutrition level of crops; research shows that 5–10 mg/kg selenite treatments in the soil can increase by an average of 16.1 mg Se/kg in the peanut kernel . Nevertheless, excessive selenite would cause toxicity in peanut seedlings.…”

“…17 Adding selenite to soil can increase Se in the peanut kernel, thereby producing an organic Se resource that is beneficial to human and animal health. 18 However, it is unknown how selenite affects the formation and detoxification of oxidative stress in peanut seedlings. There are no reports associated with the mechanism of scavenging selenite-induced oxidant stress with the metabolism of the ascorbate−glutathione cycle in germinating peanuts.…”

“…Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are an important oil crop all over the world; it can also be used as a Se accumulator . Adding selenite to soil can increase Se in the peanut kernel, thereby producing an organic Se resource that is beneficial to human and animal health . However, it is unknown how selenite affects the formation and detoxification of oxidative stress in peanut seedlings.…”

Regulation of the Phenylpropanoid Pathway: A Mechanism of Selenium Tolerance in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seedlings

“…One of the main approaches is the application of Se fertilizers to plants, and selenite has been used as a Se fertilizer . Studies have demonstrated that adding selenite to soil increased the Se content in the peanut kernel; , hence, peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea L.) can be used as one of the Se accumulators. Se is beneficial for some plants by increasing the resistance and antioxidant capacity of plants subjected to a stressful environment at a low concentration .…”