Enhanced selenium content in wheat grain by co-inoculation of selenobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: A preliminary study as a potential Se biofortification strategy

Cereal crops grown in southern Chilean Andisol provide suboptimal levels of this metalloid for human diet. Certain rhizosphere microorganisms, such as rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can increase the selenium uptake in plants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate selenium acquisition by wheat plants through the co-inoculation of native selenobacteria strains (Stenotrophomonas sp. B19, Enterobacter sp. B16, Bacillus sp. R12 and Pseudomonas sp. R8), both individually and in mixture, as selenonanosphere source with one arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus claroideum). Total selenium content in plant tissues and substrate was analyzed. According to our results, significant higher selenium content was found in inoculated plants in comparison to uninoculated controls (P ≤ 0.05). Independently of fungal presence, selenium content in grain from plants inoculated with Enterobacter sp. B16 (236 mg kg−1) was higher than the rest of the strains (116–164 mg kg−1). However, when plants were co-inoculated with a mixture of selenobacteria strains and G. claroideum, selenium content in grain was 23.5% higher (725 mg kg−1) than non-mycorrhizal plants (587 mg kg−1). The results suggest a synergistic effect between the selenobacteria mixture and G. claroideum associated to major biodiversity and demonstrate a great potential of these rhizosphere microorganisms for biofortification of cereals and its derivates. ► Includes the highest selenium content in wheat grain that has so far been reported. ► Includes selenium acquisition by wheat plants through microbial co-inoculation. ► Co-inoculation resulted in selenium translocation in wheat grain. ► Includes the total selenium content in selenobacteria, plant tissues and substrate. ► Report a promissory strategy for biofortification technology.