Chitosan-Stabilized Selenium Nanoparticles and Glutathione Alleviate Salt Stress in Soybean through Plant-Rhizosphere Microbiome Interactions

The goal of this study is to explore how the combined application of chitosan-stabilized nano-selenium (SeNPs@CS) and glutathione (GSH), referred to as SeG, enhances salt tolerance in soybean. By integrating transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome analyses, we aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms linking SeG treatment to improved plant performance under saline conditions, including molecular pathways, metabolic changes, and interactions with rhizosphere microbes. This research is relevant because soil salinization poses a major threat to global crop productivity, and developing effective strategies to boost salt resistance in crops like soybean is critical for ensuring agricultural sustainability. The findings may offer a novel nano-enabled approach that combines plant metabolic regulation with rhizosphere microbiome engineering, providing practical solutions to enhance crop resilience in saline environments.