Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 328-339 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 328 Research Insight Open Access Study on the Role of Selenium in Enhancing Stress Resistance and Quality Improvement of Strawberries Xiaoling Zhang , Chuanzhang Fan, Xiaohua Zhou, Shan Xu, Zuoxin Tang, Yu Zhong, Haiying Wang Kunming University, Kunming, 650214, Yunan, China Corresponding email: 350340959@qq.com Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol.15, No.6 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0031 Received: 03 Oct., 2024 Accepted: 16 Nov., 2024 Published: 17 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhang X.L., Fan C.Z., Zhou X.H., Xu S., Tang Z.X., Zhong Y., and Wang H.Y., 2024, Study on the role of selenium in enhancing stress resistance and quality improvement of strawberries, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(6): 328-339 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0031) Abstract Strawberries are widely favored for their high nutritional value and economic benefits, but their yield and quality are often constrained by various environmental stresses. This study explores the mechanisms by which selenium alleviates salt stress, heavy metal pollution, and drought stress in strawberries, including enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, optimizing water use efficiency, and maintaining cell membrane stability to improve stress tolerance. The results demonstrate that selenium application promotes strawberry growth and development under extreme conditions, enhances fruit quality, and boosts market competitiveness. Moreover, selenium biofortification effectively increases the content of functional compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols in strawberry fruits, significantly improving sugar-acid balance and flavor characteristics. However, further research is needed to optimize selenium application, focusing on dosage, safety, and synergistic interactions with other nutrients for practical agricultural promotion. This study provides critical insights for the development of selenium-enriched strawberry varieties and sustainable agricultural practices. Keywords Strawberries; Selenium; Biofortification; Stress tolerance; Fruit quality; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Fragaria of the family Rosaceae. Known for its vibrant color, sweet taste, and high nutritional value, it is often referred to as the "Queen of Fruits" (Lei et al., 2006). Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, and dietary fiber, making them highly favored by consumers and a crop of significant economic value (Yuan and Sun, 2021). With a short production cycle and high economic returns, strawberries are one of the most widely cultivated small berries globally. In recent years, the growing demand for high-quality strawberries has been driven by rising living standards and an increasing focus on healthy diets. China has become the largest producer and consumer of strawberries worldwide. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022), China's strawberry cultivation area has increased by 78.51% over the past decade, while production has grown by 79.25% (https://data.stats.gov.cn/easyquery.htm?cn=C01). However, meeting the ever-expanding market demand while improving both yield and quality remains a critical challenge in agricultural production and scientific research. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element whose biological significance has gradually been unveiled since its discovery in 1817. Selenium plays a critical role in human health, contributing to immune response, antioxidant functions, and hormonal regulation. Research has shown that selenium plays a multifaceted and critical role in the human body. It is involved in immune response, antioxidant defense, and hormonal regulation, and it also helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, delay aging, and combat cancer (Wang et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). Selenium deficiency can impair the antioxidant system, affecting the health of various organs (Duborskáe et al., 2022). In plants, selenium is a beneficial element primarily found in two forms: inorganic selenium and organic selenium. Common forms of organic selenium include selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet), which enter plants through amino acid transporters and participate in various metabolic activities (Svennerstam et al., 2008; Kikkert and Berkelaar, 2013). Plants can convert absorbed inorganic selenium into organic selenium and store it in chloroplasts or cytoplasm, earning them the title of "Selenium Production Workshops" (Hasanuzzaman et al., 2020; Gui et al., 2022). This conversion process not only supports plant growth but also produces
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