Employees of the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology D.I. Ivanovo SFedU have developed a new method for the synthesis of trace elements of red selenium nanoparticles, reports official website of the organization. This method will improve crop yields without harming the environment.
Selenium nanoparticles are important for the environment and for the human body. Many studies of recent years indicate a significant role of this element in the regulation of plant life. Now the most promising direction in the development of agro-biosafety and soil fertility is the use of selenium-based nanopreparations, which affect the soil at the cellular level, introducing their excess energy, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of ongoing processes, that is, they are bioactive. The researchers also note that excessive use of selenium can increase its accumulation in plant tissues and exhibit toxicity, so it is important to observe this fine line between selenium deficiency and excess.
Scientists of the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology D.I. Ivanovo SFU together with colleagues from India (University of Northern Maharashtra) conducted a study on red nanoselenium as a new opportunity to improve crop fertility.
The specialists considered biological methods for the synthesis of SeNps (selenium nanoparticles) using various registered microbes. These microbes work as bionanofactories that use selenium anions in their metabolic pathways and detoxify them, forming a nanomaterial as a by-product.
“It is known that some microorganisms are capable of converting environmentally available toxic selenium oxyanions, such as selenate or selenite, into less toxic elemental Se(0). With the help of nanotechnology and bacterial isolate, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were synthesized by us from root nodules. The microbes used turned sodium selenite into red nanoselenium,” said Vishnu Rajput, a leading researcher at AB&B SFedU.
“We have found that biosynthesized [green synthesis] red nano-selenium is more promising for sustainable crop production and safer for environmental release due to increased absorption capacity, improved bioavailability and less toxicity,” said Vishnu Rajput.
The proposed method of synthesis can be used in agriculture to increase productivity without harming the environment. The results of the study of scientists are published in a scientific journal "Results in Chemistry".