ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief overview of selenium uptake and metabolism in higher plants as well as the beneficial effects of selenium on normal plant development. The main part of the chapter details the ameliorating effects of exogenous selenium on plant responses to abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, heavy metals, low or high temperature, high light, and UV-B. A large amount of valuable literature data clearly shows that as an antioxidant Se primarily ameliorates secondary oxidative stress; however, we have little knowledge of the effect of Se at the molecular level. Possibly, the future identification of Se-responsive genes and proteins could contribute to a better understanding of the molecular effects of beneficially low Se doses.
