Selenorhizobacteria: As biofortification tool in sustainable agriculture

Selenium biofortification in crops aims to either increase the accumulation of selenium in edible plants or to increase their bioavailability. It is one of the solutions for globally increasing hidden hunger for essential micronutrients. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are advantageous soil bacteria that inhabit plant roots and increase plant growth through various mechanisms in different ways. The motion of selenium across soil, crop and environment interfaces is thus of crucial importance for gain in human selenium status. This review gives an overview of microbial enhancement of selenium as beneficial element for plants, significance of selenium to human health, selenium response in soil crop system, selenium as plant protector against abiotic stresses and the possible approaches to enhancing selenium concentration through use of microorganisms (selenorhizobacteria) as biotechnological tools for increasing plant nutrition and quality.