Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Y Anitha Vasline, P Anandan, N Anandhabhairavi, Jasmine Juliet Richard, David Israel Mansingh and Y Sreeja

Abstract:
Selenium, mineral element has tremendous impact on human health, animals and plants. The dietary consumption by people could not satisfy the daily allowable limit of selenium for its proper function in the human system. Selenoproteins identified till now accounts for about 25 and has specific functions viz., antioxidant, thyroid hormone secretion, guard against oxidative stress, synthesis of biomolecules, phospholipid biosynthesis, anticancerous heart regulation, sperm motility and male fertility. Deficiency of selenium is profound in many countries accounting to 3 billion people deficient globally causing malnutrition resulting two endemic diseases Kaschin-Beck disease and Keshan disease and other diseases such as heart diseases, breast cancer, cardiovascular diseases, HIV viral infections, immune system impairment, etc. Agronomic biofortification acts as an effective strategy by enhancing/increasing the concentration of selenium in the agricultural staple food crops thus indirectly achieving the targeted leel of selenium in daily human dietary uptake even in rural areas. Research evidences from field investigations of research scientist proves that cereal crops on an average have 15 to 20 fold increase in grain selenium concentration during crop growth rate by selenium fertilization.