Selenium in plants and its effect on feeding and development of phytophages

Abstract

Plant organisms are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stress factors, which cause oxidative stress consisting in the imbalance between the formation and removal of reactive oxygen species, causing damage to cell components. It has been observed that the accumulation of trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel, zinc and selenium is one of the plants defence strategies against phytophages and it is termed as Elemental Defence Hypothesis. Included in the trace elements, selenium is taken up from the soil by plants and included in their metabolism along sulphur transport and transformation pathways. This element in low concentration supports the resistance of plants to various stress factors by affecting the elements of the antioxidant system. Selenium contained in plants can also act on as a deterrent to phytophages or feeding them toxins and disrupting their development cycle.