Selenium Biofortification: Strategies, Progress and Challenges

Ofori Prince Danso, Bismark Asante-Badu, Zezhou Zhang, Jiaping Song, Zhangmin Wang, Xuebin Yin () and Renbin Zhu
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Ofori Prince Danso: School of Earth and Space Sciences, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Bismark Asante-Badu: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS), Beijing 100081, China
Zezhou Zhang: College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, 9 Donghua Road, Fengyang County, Chuzhou 233100, China
Jiaping Song: College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, 9 Donghua Road, Fengyang County, Chuzhou 233100, China
Zhangmin Wang: Nanjing Institute for FAST (iFAST), National Innovation Center for Functional Rice, Nanjing 210031, China
Xuebin Yin: School of Earth and Space Sciences, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Renbin Zhu: School of Earth and Space Sciences, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-29

Abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals. Its necessity for plants is still under examination. Due to the contradictory nature of Se and its significance, it has received much interest in recent years. Se deficiency can be harmful to humans, yet almost a billion people are deficient. Its deficiency has been associated with cancers, impairment of organs, and a number of other ailments. The biofortification of plants and livestock is a guaranteed practice to increase human selenium consumption. Strategies such as foliar spraying, the direct application of Se in plants and Se feed, and injections in livestock have been employed. Se biofortification has been shown to have additional beneficial effects in plants and livestock. In plants, it has been reported to mitigate different types of stress and increase yield. In animal biofortification, Se has been shown to reduce the detrimental effects of ailments and promote healthy growth. Se biofortification, nevertheless, confronts a number of difficulties. For instance, the bulk of biofortified products must be prepared before consumption, lowering the Se concentration. The objective of this review is to convey the current understanding of the Se biofortification of plants and animals, as well as its difficulties, taking into account both the detrimental consequences of Se deficiency and benefits of Se biofortification.

Keywords: selenium; biofortification; plants; livestock; food; humans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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