Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 328-339 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 333 Moreover, to ensure the feasibility and economic viability of selenium biofortification in practical agriculture, more field trials are needed to validate laboratory findings. Tailoring selenium application strategies to regional agricultural characteristics can further drive the widespread application of selenium in strawberry cultivation. This approach not only enhances the quality and market value of strawberries but also addresses consumer demand for high-quality selenium-enriched foods. 5 Recent Advances in Selenium Research on Stress Tolerance in Strawberries 5.1 Application of nano-selenium technology in strawberry stress tolerance research Nano-selenium technology, with its high stability and bioactivity, has shown great potential in enhancing strawberry stress tolerance. Studies have demonstrated that Se-NPs effectively mitigate growth constraints in strawberries under adverse conditions such as salt stress, drought, and diseases by enhancing antioxidant system activity and photosynthetic efficiency (Zahedi et al., 2019; Pourebrahimi et al., 2023). For example, Zahedi et al. (2020) found that Se-NPs reduced oxidative damage in strawberries under salt stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and osmotic regulation, while also improving fruit quality. Furthermore, Se-NPs significantly increased the content of antioxidants, such as total phenolics and anthocyanins, thereby enhancing the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of strawberries. The potential of Se-NPs in disease prevention has also been validated. Zhu et al. (2021) investigated spherical Se-NPs synthesized biologically and found that they significantly suppressed the growth of pathogenic fungi in strawberries, reducing disease incidence and increasing selenium content in the fruits. These findings suggest that nano-selenium technology provides an efficient approach to enhancing stress tolerance in strawberries and offers theoretical support for developing disease-resistant and selenium-enriched varieties. 5.2 Interactions between selenium and plant hormones The interaction between selenium and plant hormones plays a crucial role in improving strawberry stress tolerance. Selenium regulates the synthesis and signaling pathways of plant hormones, enhancing the physiological response of strawberries to salt stress, heavy metal contamination, and drought (Hasanuzzaman et al., 2020). For instance, under salt stress, exogenous selenium treatment promoted the accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) in strawberries, helping to regulate water use efficiency and osmotic adjustment (Zahedi et al., 2019). Selenium’s interaction with hormones such as ethylene, cytokinins, and jasmonic acid has also shown significant effects. Research indicates that selenium reduces stress-induced leaf senescence by inhibiting excessive ethylene production and promotes strawberry growth and differentiation by increasing cytokinin levels (Lin et al., 2024). These findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of selenium-plant hormone synergy and offer theoretical guidance for optimizing selenium applications in agriculture. 5.3 Molecular regulation of selenium in strawberry stress tolerance Selenium enhances strawberry stress tolerance not only through physiological improvements but also by regulating molecular mechanisms. Selenium has been shown to enhance antioxidant capacity by modulating the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes. For example, Zhang et al. (2020) reported that Na2SeO3 treatment significantly upregulated the expression of SOD, CAT, and APX genes in strawberry leaves, thereby alleviating oxidative damage caused by heavy metal stress. Selenium’s regulatory effects on secondary metabolic pathways in strawberries have also garnered attention. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal that selenium modulates the expression of key enzyme genes involved in the synthesis of polyphenols and flavonoids, thereby enhancing the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of strawberry fruits (Mimmo et al., 2017; Lin et al., 2024). These molecular studies deepen our understanding of selenium’s mechanisms in enhancing stress tolerance and provide valuable insights for developing more resilient and high-quality strawberry varieties.
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