Abstract
The essentiality of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) for the human organism and the relationship between these two trace elements in mammal metabolism highlight the importance of the joint Se–I biofortification to vegetable crops in the frame of sustainable farming management. A research study was carried out in southern Italy to determine the effects of the combined inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biofortification with Se and I on plant growth, seed yield, quality, and antioxidant and elemental status, as well as residual biomass chemical composition of chickpea grown in two different planting times (14 January and 28 February). The AMF application improved the intensity of I and Se accumulation both in single and joint supply of these elements, resulting in higher seed yield and number as well as dry weight, and was also beneficial for increasing the content of antioxidants, protein, and macro- and microelements. Earlier planting time resulted in higher values of seed yield, as well as Se, I, N, P, Ca, protein, and antioxidant levels. Se and I showed a synergistic effect, stimulating the accumulation of each other in chickpea seeds. The AMF inoculation elicited a higher protein and cellulose synthesis, as well as glucose production in the residual biomass, compared to the single iodine application and the untreated control. From the present research, it can be inferred that the plant biostimulation through the soil inoculation with AMF and the biofortification with Se and I, applied singly or jointly, proved to be effective sustainable farming tools for improving the chickpea seed yield and/or quality, as well as the residual biomass chemical composition for energy production or beneficial metabolite extraction.
Highlights
IntroductionSe is known to be a part of the tri-iodothyronine deiodinases that participate in thyroid hormones synthesis [1]
I and Se are essential microelements for mammals
The interactions between I, Se, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on yield, antioxidant status, mineral composition, protein content, and other biochemical characteristics were investigated in chickpea crops grown in two different planting times (January and February), as the experimental treatments applied are abiotic factors of great practical importance
Summary
Se is known to be a part of the tri-iodothyronine deiodinases that participate in thyroid hormones synthesis [1]. The close relationship between the two elements entails the importance of the joint Se and I status optimization in the human organism [4]. The difficulties related to this research area are associated with the scant knowledge of the relationship between Se and I in plants, where both elements are not essential [7,8], though they are able to participate in the antioxidant defense system [6,9]. Many factors affect the efficiency of biofortification, namely, the element chemical form (iodides, iodates, selenates, selenites, organic selenium, Se nanoparticles), the method of supply (soil, foliar, soilless nutrient solution), the dose, and genetic tolerance [6,10]
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