Nanoselenium integrates soil-pepper plant homeostasis by recruiting rhizosphere-beneficial microbiomes and allocating signaling molecule levels under Cd stress

Metabolomic analysis on the mechanism of nanoselenium alleviating cadmium stress and improving the pepper nutritional value

“…It is critical to boost pepper plants’ nutritional value and tolerance to Cd contamination in the soil. Our earlier research demonstrated that nano-Se can promote the growth and development of pepper plants under Cd stress, improving the soil properties and the distribution of relevant signaling molecules, as well as increasing the levels of primary and secondary metabolites and reducing both Cd uptake and toxicity [ 16 ]. However, there is no information on the pepper plant’s general metabolic level, fruit nutrients, or volatile organic chemicals.…”

“…Plants were grown in a greenhouse at the China Agricultural University (Beijing, China) under the following growing conditions: Photon flux (250–300 µmol m − 2 s − 1 ); temperature of 25/18 °C (day/night); light/dark cycle of 12/12 h; 75–85% humidity. Cd-contaminated soil was collected from a vegetable field in the city of Changsha, Hunan, China (28°26′ N, 113°03′ E); the soil properties were characterized and described in earlier research [ 16 ]. Varying amounts of nano-Se were dissolved in pure water (0, 1, 5, and 20 mg/L) before application to the Cd-contaminated soil.…”

“…Our previous articles have described nano-Se in detail [ 17 ]. The application of nano-Se (1, 5, and 20 mg/L) was found to significantly increase Cd levels in the root while decreasing those in the pepper tissues (stems, leaves, and fruit) relative to the control treatment [ 16 ]. Based on these previous findings, the present investigation focused on the mechanisms by which nano-Se reduces Cd stress and improves the nutritional value of the pepper fruit.…”

“…In addition, nano-Se treatment maintained the optimum balance between the plant and soil in the rhizosphere by improving rhizosphere soil quality (environmental index, enzyme activity, microbial communities, metabolites, Se and Cd morphology) and the distribution of soil-plant signaling molecules (phytohormones and phenolic acids). The study investigated links between microbial diversity, target metabolites, and levels of gene expression in the rhizosphere soil and pepper plants [ 16 ]. However, there has been no comprehensive investigation into the role of nano-Se in the regulation of non-target metabolites and nutritional components in pepper plants under Cd stress.…”

Selenium species transforming along soil–plant continuum and their beneficial roles for horticultural crops

“…The added selenite and selenate fertilizers are easily absorbed or reduced as mentioned above. However, Li et al (2020) [ 56 ] firstly found that the incubation of two AMF species, Funneliformis mosseae and Glomus versiforme , increased the concentration of available Se forms and facilitated Se uptake by crops. Another important result of Li et al (2020) [ 56 ] is that the two AMF species also significantly increased Se bioavailability in soil without Se addition.…”