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Selenobacteria selected from the rhizosphere as a potential tool for Se biofortification of wheat crops

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Abstract

Cereal production in southern Chile is based on ash-derived volcanic Andisols, which present suboptimal levels of available selenium (Se). Strategies are needed to improve Se content in cereal crops and concomitantly improve the nutritional quality of grain. Here, we investigated the occurrence of Se-tolerant bacteria (STB) in Andisols and evaluated Se tolerance and accumulation in STB. The inoculation of wheat with STB and the contributions of these bacteria to Se content in plants were also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that Se amendment of Andisols stimulated some bacterial groups (Paenibacillaceae and Brucellaceae) but inhibited others (Clostridia, Burkholderiales, Chitinophagaceae and Oxalobacteraceae), as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, we found four STB isolates that displayed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACC deaminase activity) and that carried the acdS gene as revealed by PCR. The selected STB were characterised as Stenotrophomonas, Bacillus, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas according to partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. After 24 h of culture in nutrient broth, the selected STB showed the ability to grow in high Se concentrations (5 and 10 mM) and to accumulate elemental Se in micro- and nanospherical deposits, transforming 50–80 % of the Se initially added. Greenhouse experiments with wheat showed that Se associated with STB (micro- and nanospheres of elemental Se and other intracellular forms) can be translocated into leaves of wheat plantlets.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by FONDECYT No. 1100625. Jacquelinne Acuña thanks the CONICYT Ph.D. scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile

    Jacquelinne J. Acuña & Patricio J. Barra

  2. Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Ave. Francisco Salazar, 01145, Temuco, Chile

    Milko A. Jorquera & María de la Luz Mora

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    David E. Crowley

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  1. Jacquelinne J. Acuña
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  2. Milko A. Jorquera
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  5. María de la Luz Mora
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Correspondence to María de la Luz Mora.

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Acuña, J.J., Jorquera, M.A., Barra, P.J. et al. Selenobacteria selected from the rhizosphere as a potential tool for Se biofortification of wheat crops. Biol Fertil Soils 49, 175–185 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0705-2

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