Playing God: How Selenium Nanoparticles Change Plants, Heal People and Protect Nature

Presented by Anton  Shiriaev Ph.D.

Around one billion people on Earth lack Selenium (Se) in their diet. In severe cases, Se deficiency causes diseases and disorders in humans. Se is not essential for plants, however, they metabolize toxic Se forms from the soil into bioavailable organic molecules. Consuming fruit and vegetables enriched with Se is one of the ways to overcome or prevent dietary deficit.

We engineered three strategies allowing enriching tomato fruit with Se: plant foliar spraying, vacuum infiltration and passive immersion. Additionally to traditional methods, we introduced the application of Se nanoparticles, produced chemically or created by tiny microbes (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia). We discovered that Se, besides elevating the nutritional value of tomatoes, triggers molecular machinery resulting in better fruit quality, and potentially prolonged shelf-life.

Come to explore with us

Why Selenium used to be called an “essential poison”?

What does Selenium have in common with cuckoo birds?

Why to design better tomatoes, our research group have dared to play God three times?

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